Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155; Flight Crew Total 560; Flight Crew Type 425
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Aircraft
Was flying from ZZZ to ZZZ1. Around 17 miles out I started my descent; when I pushed the mixture full forward the engine sputtered; then shut off. I tried adjusting the mixture and did some troubleshooting but could not get it started again. [Requested priority handling] with ZZZ1 TRACON and glided to ZZZ2; a private grass strip. My passenger was an A&P mechanic (we were flying to ZZZ1 to repair another plane so he had tools and parts onboard) and determined the cause of the failure was a faulty bolt connecting the mixture cable to the carburetor. The bolt released when I started my descent and shut the engine off. We were able to have the plane repaired on site and completed our flight to ZZZ1 later that day.
Pilot reported engine failure during cruise and diverted to a safe landing. Post flight it was found that a bolt connecting the mixture cable to the carburetor had failed.