Accident Summary
An agricultural aircraft came to rest inverted with its engine under water after experiencing a power loss that necessitated a forced landing. The incident occurred during the first aerial application run of the day. The aircraft settled into the ground in a landing attitude despite the pilot applying full throttle and jettisoning the load.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that the power loss began during the turn to line up for the first aerial application run. Despite attempts to maintain flight, the aircraft descended and impacted the ground in a landing attitude. The pilot stated that both full throttle and load jettison were employed but did not prevent the forced landing.
Damage and Sequence
The left landing gear broke off upon striking an embankment, causing the aircraft to nose over into a water-filled ditch. The aircraft came to rest inverted, with the engine fully submerged. Due to the engine being under water for several days, no engine teardown was performed.
Investigation Findings
An on-site investigation was conducted but found no malfunctions in the aircraft or its systems. There were no witnesses to the accident. The investigation did not determine a specific cause for the power loss, as the engine could not be examined internally. No other anomalies were identified.