What happened
The pilot was conducting agricultural spraying operations over a field. After completing an initial pass, the pilot lined up to begin a second pass when the engine began shaking violently and subsequently locked down.
In response to the loss of power, the pilot performed a forced landing within the field. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a terrace, which caused the plane to become airborne momentarily. The aircraft then landed again a short distance away before coming to a complete stop. The impact with the terrace resulted in the landing gear separating from the aircraft and caused structural damage to the fuselage. There were no reported injuries.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the engine was conducted by the operator. This inspection revealed that the loss of engine power was caused by the failure of the number 5 and 6 connecting rods, which had penetrated the engine case.