What happened
The pilot was conducting agricultural application operations when he completed one swath pass and began turning back for another. During this maneuver, the engine sputtered and stopped completely. The pilot executed an emergency landing in a field. As the aircraft rolled out on the ground, it approached a line of trees. To avoid impact, the pilot applied the brakes, which caused the nose to pitch down sharply. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the engine revealed significant contamination. Approximately six ounces of water were found in the carburetor float chamber. This presence of water indicates fuel system contamination, which likely caused the engine malfunction during flight.
Findings
The primary factor leading to this accident was the water contamination within the carburetor. The pilot's decision to apply brakes aggressively during rollout contributed to the nose-over and subsequent inversion of the aircraft.