Accident Overview
An agricultural aircraft experienced a loss of engine power during a spraying mission and subsequently nosed over during an off-airport landing. The pilot was uninjured in the accident.
Flight and Engine Failure
The operator briefed the pilot that the aircraft had been serviced with approximately one hour of fuel, which was sufficient for spraying the first field. The aircraft departed from the operator's private airstrip with 125 gallons of pesticides loaded. While spraying a second field, as the pilot initiated a pull-up to reverse direction, the engine began sputtering and coughing and continued to lose power.
Landing and Ground Roll
To avoid nearby power lines, the pilot elected to land on a cultivated field adjacent to a road. The field was planted with waist-high Milo (sorghum). During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires sank into the soft ground. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel cells were dry. There was no evidence of fuel spill or leakage near the wreckage. Examination of the engine did not provide any evidence of pre-existing anomalies that would have contributed to the loss of engine power.
Documentation
The pilot did not complete the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.