Incident Overview
A pilot reported a partial loss of engine power while conducting an agricultural spray run. In an attempt to restore power, the pilot briefly applied carburetor heat, pumped the throttle, and leaned the mixture. These actions did not restore sufficient power to maintain altitude.
Forced Landing
Faced with diminishing altitude, the pilot landed the airplane in a soft, fallow field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over.
Post-Incident Examination
Following the incident, the engine was removed from the airframe. During the removal and subsequent preparation for a test run in a different airframe, several abnormalities were noted:
- Water was observed in the fuel gascolator.
- Oil was present in the left magneto.
- A broken high-tension lead was replaced.
- A different carburetor air box was fitted.
Engine Test Run
After addressing these findings, the engine was started and ran normally, with the exception of a slight roughness at full rated power.
No further information was provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, or individual outcomes.