What happened
The pilot had been flying for approximately forty-five minutes on the current fuel load and estimated having more than one hour of fuel remaining at the time of the incident. While performing the first swath run during a climb out from a field, the engine lost power. The pilot observed black smoke emitting from the exhaust as the power loss occurred. Due to the circumstances, the only available area for an emergency landing was directly ahead.
The investigation
During the post-accident examination of the engine assembly, investigators were able to start the engine; however, it ran roughly and produced black smoke. Further technical examination revealed that the fuel pressure provided by the engine-driven fuel pump was not being maintained within the pressure carburetor. A local mechanic assisting with the examination noted that a loss of fuel pressure in this type of carburetor is typically associated with a defective needle assembly.
Maintenance records indicated that the engine assembly had accumulated 1,150 hours of service since its last overhaul, which is near the recommended 1,200-hour interval. Additionally, the records did not indicate whether the carburetor itself had been overhauled since the most recent engine overhaul.