Incident Overview
A commercial pilot was returning from an aerial application flight when the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot reported that the engine "totally quit without any forewarning." He attempted a forced landing to a nearby highway but the aircraft lost too much altitude before reaching it, and he executed a forced landing to a soybean field.
Post-Accident Inspection
An on-scene inspection of the aircraft revealed that the left fuel tank contained no fuel. The header tank, located between the left and right fuel tanks, was also dry. The header tank's quick fuel drain was found crushed but held open in that position. Approximately 10 gallons of fuel were found in the right fuel tank. No fuel blight was observed on the bean plants at the accident site.
Operator Remarks
The owner of the airplane reported that the aircraft was fueled prior to the accident flight, and that the left wing was full of fuel. He stated that the airplane should have had enough fuel for another 20 minutes of flight. The owner also reported that the pilot sprayed the field using a "squeeze pattern," in which the pilot sprayed the outside of the field first and worked his way to the center. By doing so, the airplane was constantly turning in the same direction. According to the owner, you can "sling all the fuel from one side to the other side," and that it is possible to get air in the system.
Summary of Findings
No official probable cause was determined in the source material. The engine failure occurred without warning during the return leg, and fuel distribution issues were noted during the inspection. The aircraft's fuel system status and the pilot's maneuvering pattern were described by the owner as potential factors in the fuel starvation.