Accident Sequence
After being serviced with a full load of fuel and 140 gallons of chemical, the aircraft began its spraying operation. Following just one pass, the pilot noted a partial loss of engine power. As power continued to diminish, the aircraft lost altitude and performed an emergency landing in the field that had been sprayed.
Landing Details
During the landing, the landing gear was torn from the aircraft. The aircraft bounced but remained upright. The pilot attempted to jettison the chemical load before touchdown, but the gate stop mechanism was incorrectly set, preventing the dump.
Engine Examination
Following the incident, the engine was tested and found to have fuel system contamination. The contaminants included rust, sand grains, and fine aluminum fragments. Testing revealed that the #6 fuel nozzle became plugged to the extent that it caused a loss of power on the #6 cylinder.
Probable Cause
The partial power loss was determined to be the result of fuel system contamination that led to a plugged fuel nozzle, specifically affecting the #6 cylinder.