Accident Overview
On July 10, 2009, at approximately 1700 central daylight time, a Grumman/Schweizer G-164B agricultural airplane, registration N6683K, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Beaman, Iowa. The pilot, an airline transport pilot, was conducting a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight that originated from a farm airstrip. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured.
Pilot's Account
During a post-accident telephone conversation, the pilot stated that he experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff, but the engine did not quit. In a written report, the pilot described that prior to the accident flight he performed a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, which included checking fuel quantity and water accumulation. The airplane had about 40 gallons of fuel on board, and no water was detected in the fuel. The remainder of the pre-flight inspection revealed nothing abnormal.
At about 1645, the pilot started the engine and allowed it to warm up. The engine started normally, and oil pressure indications were normal. While warming up, ground crew loaded the hopper with 150 gallons of water and chemicals. The pilot then performed a run-up, noting that the engine ran smoothly and that magneto and carburetor heat checks were good. He verified the mixture control was set to full rich and the propeller to low pitch.
Takeoff and Power Loss
The pilot reported that the takeoff roll began normally, with engine power set to 35 inches of manifold pressure and 2,300 rpm. The airplane accelerated normally, and he lifted off at about 70 miles per hour. Shortly after, he noticed a loss of engine power, and the airplane began to settle back toward the runway. He applied full power, but the engine did not respond. The airplane struck a fence at the end of the grass runway and then nosed over in an adjacent agricultural field. The pilot noted that the temperature at the time of the accident was 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with light and variable winds.
Aircraft and Engine Examination
The airplane was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R1340 engine. It had accumulated about 300 hours since its last overhaul and about 30 hours since the airplane's last annual inspection. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no reason for the loss of engine power.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage in the accident. The pilot was not injured.