What happened
While performing his third aerial application swath run, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. This failure necessitated a forced landing, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the engine had seized. Specifically, the engine case was fractured in the area of the number one cylinder. There was no evidence found of any airframe malfunction occurring prior to the impact.
Further examination of the engine components revealed that the crankshaft had fractured forward of the number one connecting rod journal.