Incident Overview
An aircraft sustained damage during a forced landing after its engine lost power while executing a pull-up from the final cleanup swath run. Approximately 25 minutes before the accident flight, the pilot had landed to reload chemicals. When asked if fuel was needed, the pilot declined, stating that 10 to 12 gallons remained, which was considered enough to finish the day's spraying operations.
Flight Sequence
The pilot reported making several landings throughout the day to refill the hopper. On each subsequent takeoff, the engine initially provided full power (2775 RPM). However, after completing several swath runs, the engine would only deliver 2500 RPM during pull-ups. During the final cleanup run, the application of full throttle yielded no engine response. Power was not restored, and the aircraft subsequently stalled and fell to the ground.
Environmental Conditions
At 1951 CDT, approximately 31 miles northeast of Watertown, South Dakota, the temperature and dew point were recorded as 77°F and 64°F, respectively. According to icing probability charts, these conditions were conducive to carburetor icing.