What happened
While maneuvering for a swath run, the pilot of a Cessna 188B experienced a complete loss of engine power. In response to the power loss, the pilot selected an adjacent cotton field for a forced landing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the airframe and the engine assembly, but the inspection failed to reveal any mechanical problems. No fuel was recovered from the aircraft's fuel system during the investigation. However, it was noted that the fuel bladder had been damaged, and a small amount of fuel had reportedly spilled into the bottom of the wing assembly.
According to the Cessna 188B flight manual, two gallons of fuel are considered unusable within the aircraft fuel system. During a subsequent functional check of the engine assembly, the engine started and operated normally.