Accident Sequence
During the takeoff climb, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine ceased operation. The aircraft was carrying a load of 125 gallons of fungicide intended for aerial spraying. The pilot jettisoned the cargo and initiated a right turn to attempt a landing in an open field. As the aircraft approached the field, it struck a tree located on the boundary, causing the aircraft to rotate about 45 degrees to the right. The aircraft then touched down, bounced across the terrain, and finally came to rest in an upright position facing north.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination determined that the engine would only run when the electric fuel boost pump was activated. The engine-driven fuel pump, part number 638154-1, had seized, and its drive shaft had sheared. The seizure occurred at the shaft seal, part number 13507.