What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was engaged in routine aerial application maneuvers. During this phase of flight, the pilot observed a partial loss of engine power. In an attempt to maintain altitude and clear surrounding obstacles, the pilot attempted to climb over nearby trees. However, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient height due to a critical loss of airspeed.
With no option to safely divert or continue climbing, the pilot found himself unable to jettison the chemical load carried in the aircraft. Consequently, the aircraft impacted the terrain with significant force. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft to determine the root cause of the power loss. A thorough inspection was conducted on the engine components and the chemical dump valve system. The examination revealed no mechanical discrepancies or anomalies with the engine itself. Additionally, the dump valve was found to be functioning correctly, ruling out a mechanical failure in the cargo release mechanism as a contributing factor.