What happened
During the initial climb following takeoff, an aerial application aircraft carrying 165 gallons of chemical struck a hay bale located off the end of the runway. The hay bale had been placed at the end of the runway used for the takeoff run.
The impact with the hay bale severed the aircraft's right main landing gear. Following the strike, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft back to the airfield for a landing. During the landing attempt, the right main landing gear collapsed, causing the right wing to impact the terrain. The aircraft then skidded to a stop.
Findings
The density altitude at the time of the accident was approximately 4,780 feet mean sea level.
Safety message
The pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by carrying a smaller load or electing not to fly when density altitude is too high. Additionally, the pilot indicated that checking adjacent fields for temporary obstructions, such as hay bales, could have mitigated the risk.