A cessna pilot reported an apparent loss of engine power while climbing out of the traffic pattern. ...

Attributes
ACN	1323758
Time
Date	201601
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12 Flight Crew Total 2582 Flight Crew Type 39
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

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.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 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.

Narrative: 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.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

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.