Accident Summary
Shortly after takeoff with a chemical load intended for field spraying, the aircraft's engine suffered a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing. During the landing, the aircraft struck a fence and nosed over. The impact crushed the fuselage aft of the lower wing trailing edge.
Damage Assessment
The chemical load had not been dumped prior to the forced landing. The extra mass of the load worsened the damage sustained in the cockpit area. The aircraft came to rest in a nose-over attitude.
Engine Findings
Examination of the engine revealed that the #4 cylinder exhaust rocker arm boss was cracked around its entire circumference. Additionally, the intake valve pushrod was found bent. No determination was made regarding when these failures occurred relative to the power loss.
Salvo Door Cable
The cable used for manual activation of the salvo door was found broken. Investigators could not determine whether the cable failure existed before the accident or was a result of the crash impact.
No other preexisting mechanical issues were identified. The investigation did not assign a probable cause.