20030115000689A

(.19) On January 15, 2003, at 0800 pacific standard time, a Cessna A188A, N5638J, made a forced landing in an open field and came to rest in a ditch following a loss of engine power after takeoff from a private dirt strip near Brawley, California. Farm aviation operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR part 137, as an agricultural application flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area crop dusting flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was scheduled to terminateat the private dirt strip. According to the pilot, during climb out the engine failed. He made a forced landing in an open field and during the landing rollout the airplane went into a ditch. The pilot also stated that a newly overhauled (remanufactured) engine had been installed on the airplane a couple of months prior to the accident. He indicated that the airplane had accrued 17 hours of flight time since the engine installation. (-23) the pilot stated that the engine lost power after a take-off rollout. The aircraft was landed in a field and hit a ditch causing substantial dam age. The aircraft was recovered and moved back to farm aviation's base of operation. NTSB did not conduct on-site investigation and FAA arrived on scene the next day. At that time, fuel flow was verified to the engine, ignition system found operational, and cylinder compressions seemed normal. The engine driveshaft rotated freely with no apparent noise. The engine was removed and shipped to tcm for engine run and evaluation with NTSB present. NTSB decided not to run the engine, but had it disassembled and inspected. No defects were reported. The propeller governor was checked and no defects were reported. Cause of the accident or reported engine failure could not be determined.