What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting an agricultural swath run. During this phase of operation, the engine suffered a sudden and complete loss of power. At an altitude of approximately 80 feet above the ground, the pilot attempted to initiate a forced landing but was unable to avoid unsuitable terrain.
The investigation
Post-accident inspection revealed that a cotter pin had been left out of the throttle control assembly. This omission occurred during maintenance performed earlier on the same day as the accident. A mechanic involved in the service stated that he had disassembled the component but failed to safety it properly before reassembly.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the failure to install a critical retaining pin during routine maintenance. This mechanical oversight directly led to the throttle control becoming unsecured, resulting in the loss of engine power during critical flight operations.