20010720017919A

(.19) On July 20, 2001, at 1515 eastern daylight time, a Cessna U206G amphibian, N756DM, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in field 5 miles east of freemont, Michigan, during an emergency landing. Prior to the accident, the airplane's engine lost partial power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial observation flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane reported minor injuries. The cross country flight originated at cadillac, Michigan, at 1300, and was en route to freemont, Michigan. The pilot told a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector that he had been hired by the us forest service to fly fire patrol. The pilot said he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level when his manifold pressure dropped to 13 to 16 inches. The pilot advanced the throttle but there was no response. The pilot looked for a place to land. There was a wooded area and a flat corn stubble field. The pilot put the airplane down in the corn stubble field. During the landing attempt, the airpl ane flipped over on its back. A FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was found resting inverted in a corn stubble field. The left float and legs were bent to the right and resting against the right float. The landing wheels in the floats were in the "up" position. The engine mounts were twisted 35 degrees to the left. The cowling and forward fuselage was crushed aft and twisted left. One of the three propeller blades was bent aft. The other two blades were bent forward. The aft fuselage was bent and buckled. The empennage was broken off. Both wings showed numerous bends and buckles. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine showed the throttle cable broken at the linkage to the throttle box lever arm. No other anomalies were found with the airplane. (-23) the subject aircraft departed from ludington, MI and enroute to cadillac municipal airport, MI to pick up a passenger chris schoemacher (forest department employee). Forest department have a contract with the owner to fly for forest department for observing the smokes or forest fire. The air craft took off cadillac airport at 13:30 hours. While performing the fire watch patrol the pilot and the passenger noticed that the engine manifold pressure is loosing gradually. Pilot attempted to increase the engine power and had no response when moving the throttle control. The aircraft landed in the field 2 1/4 miles east of Fremont airport about 1500 hrs. The field was not even and had a rising terrain. The aircraft hit hard during landing, breaking the nose gear and separated the floats from the attachment. The aircraft skid about 175 feet, flipped over and came to a stop. Damage to the aircraft was substantial and classified as destroyed. Pilot and passenger received minor injuries and was taken to local hospital, treated and released on the same day.