Incident Overview
An agricultural airplane was working a field for approximately 15 minutes when its engine lost power. The pilot immediately dumped the load. Five seconds later, the engine power returned, and the pilot climbed the airplane and turned toward the departure airport.
Second Power Loss and Forced Landing
At an altitude of 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost power again. The pilot turned the airplane back toward the field he had been working. The airplane touched down in high soybeans and rolled 85 feet before the propeller dug into the ground, causing the airplane to nose over to an inverted position.
Investigation Findings
Investigators examined the airplane and its engine but could not determine a reason for the loss of engine power. No mechanical or operational cause was identified.
Conclusion
The incident resulted from an unexplained loss of engine power during agricultural operations. The pilot's actions to dump the load and execute a forced landing were noted.