Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 2582; Flight Crew Type 39
Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
I was climbing out of right downwind on departure from Runway XXR when the engine RPM suddenly dropped off. Applying carburetor heat had no effect. I [advised] the Tower and landed on Runway XXR.  I mistakenly told Tower that it was a partial engine failure; because the wind milling prop made more noise than I would have expected for a total engine failure. However; when I got slowed enough to exit the runway; the prop stopped.After I pushed the plane into a parking spot; I checked the oil and looked things over; and I discovered the fuel shutoff knob pulled out to the off position; and the cabin heat knob pushed in to the off position. I had tried to turn the heat on when I turned downwind; but I apparently had pulled the fuel shutoff knob by mistake. There was no apparent damage to the aircraft.Contributing factors are that the cabin heat knob is close to the fuel shutoff knob; and that I have relatively low time in type. Possible ways to prevent this in the future include the following:1. Avoid non-essential control changes during high-workload phases of flight; such as initial climb out and flight in the pattern.2. Be aware of the proximity of the cabin heat knob and the fuel shutoff knob.3. Anytime I touch a red control; double check that it is the right one.4. When I perform the memory items from my engine failure checklist; always check the fuel control immediately after applying carburetor heat.
A Cessna pilot reported an apparent loss of engine power while climbing out of the traffic pattern. After advising ATC and performing a successful return to the field; the pilot discovered that the fuel shutoff valve had been closed rather than the cabin heat valve opened as intended.