Accident Overview
A pilot conducting aerial application operations reported that the engine of their aircraft sputtered and momentarily lost power just after the wheels left the ground during takeoff. The aircraft descended back to the runway, at which point engine power returned. However, the pilot indicated that the airplane was then too fast to stop on the remaining runway and too low to avoid a fence at the runway's end. The landing gear contacted the fence, and the airplane cartwheeled into an adjacent field.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, they had been using a 2,300-foot-long gravel airstrip near the fields to be sprayed as a staging area for the day's flights. After completing one application operation, the pilot landed to refuel and reload chemicals. The fueling and loading process was accomplished with the engine running at idle power.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft. The engine, a radial engine of Polish manufacture that closely resembles a Pratt and Whitney R1860, along with many of its accessories, was impact damaged and could not be run. The inspector reported that no obvious discrepancies were observed. Additionally, the inspector noted that the records indicated the engine was near the TBO (time between overhauls) limit.