Accident
During an aerial spraying operation, the pilot of a spray plane experienced a sudden loss of engine power while conducting a spray run. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in a soft field. Upon touchdown, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.
Pilot's Fuel Management
The pilot reported that he believed the ground loader had refueled the aircraft between spray runs, as was customary. However, the pilot did not visually confirm the fuel quantity in the tanks. Instead, he relied on the cockpit fuel gauge, which indicated a partial fuel load in one wing tank.
Investigation
The investigation found no reported mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft prior to the accident. The sole focus of the inquiry was on the pilot's reliance on the fuel gauge and failure to visually verify the actual fuel load.