Incident Overview
An airplane owner/pilot reported that during an aerial application flight, while returning to reload, smoke appeared in the cockpit. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing into a cotton field. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear wheel separated after contacting a depression in the field.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft at the accident site revealed oil on the fuselage and within the engine compartment. The source of the oil was identified as a hole in a flexible hose connected to the outlet of the oil cooler. The hole was located adjacent to a heat shield.
Maintenance History
The owner/pilot, who was not an A&P mechanic, had performed repairs to a baffle in the engine compartment area approximately two to three weeks prior to the accident. Following this repair, it was determined that there was insufficient clearance between the flexible oil hose and the heat shield.