What happened
Following the completion of an aerial application flight, the pilot was returning to reload when smoke was observed inside the cockpit. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot subsequently initiated a forced landing into a cotton field.
During the landing roll, the left main landing gear wheel separated from the aircraft after making contact with a depression in the terrain. The occupants were not injured.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft at the accident site revealed the presence of oil on both the fuselage and within the engine compartment area. Investigators determined that the oil leak originated from a hole in a flexible hose connected to the outlet of the oil cooler. This hole was located adjacent to a heat shield.
It was noted that the owner/pilot, who did not hold an A & P mechanic certification, had performed repairs to an engine compartment baffle approximately two to three weeks prior to the accident. Following these repairs, there was insufficient clearance between the flexible oil hose and the heat shield.