What happened
During aerial spraying operations, the pilot was maneuvering the aircraft when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, prompting an immediate attempt at a forced landing. The aircraft subsequently impacted with a ditch.
The investigation
Following the accident, the pilot inspected the engine area and identified a hole in the engine crankcase. While a full teardown of the engine was not performed after the event, the pilot noted on official documentation that the mechanical failure might have been caused by a possible connecting rod breakage or piston pin failure. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had completed its annual inspection 52 hours prior.