On July 7, 2004, a Schweizer Aircraft Corp. G-164B (registration N7502Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Wendell, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A cracked cylinder head which resulted in a loss of engine power while maneuvering. High vegetation was a factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced engine roughness and power loss while fertilizing fields, executed a forced landing in a corn field, and the aircraft nosed over during rollout, coming to rest inverted. Inspection revealed a cracked cylinder head.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while transitioning between fields during an aerial application operation, the engine began running rough at approximately 300 feet above ground level. The pilot responded by enriching the mixture to full rich and checking the magnetos, but the engine subsequently lost all power.
Forced Landing and Rollout
Faced with a complete loss of engine power, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft toward a corn field for an emergency landing. During the landing roll, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.
Post-Incident Inspection
An inspection of the engine revealed that one of the cylinders displayed a crack around the cylinder head.