What happened
The incident occurred during an agricultural application flight. While the aircraft was descending to reach the designated application height, it developed a severe miss, deviating significantly from the intended path. In response to this situation, the pilot attempted to execute a forced landing. However, the maneuver resulted in the aircraft nosing over upon impact with the ground.
The investigation
Following the accident, an inspection of the engine was conducted to determine the cause of the failure. The examination revealed that one cylinder was found split. This mechanical failure was consistent with the pilot's account of the events leading up to the crash.
Findings
The pilot stated that he believed a magneto micarta gear had failed. This failure reportedly caused cross-firing within the engine, which in turn blew the door off the air cleaner and ultimately led to the splitting of a cylinder. These mechanical issues contributed directly to the loss of power and the subsequent nosing over during the forced landing attempt.