What happened
While operating an agricultural airplane at low altitude, the pilot was engaged in spraying a cornfield using smoke-generating equipment to mark swath runs. Having completed approximately two-thirds of the field, the pilot suddenly felt heat and observed smoke filling the cockpit. Simultaneously, the engine ceased producing power.
The pilot immediately executed a forced landing into a rough/uneven crop field. The pilot reported that the duration between the initial sensation of heat and the impact with the ground was approximately two to three seconds. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Investigators found no evidence of a sustained fire within the wreckage. However, the examination revealed that the feeder tube, which supplies oil to the smoke generator, had been burned adjacent to the exterior of the right exhaust stack.
The smoke generator kit used during the operation possessed an FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate and had been used in previous operations without any reported issues. An examination of the engine was conducted, but it did not reveal the specific reason for the reported loss of power.