What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Last 14 CFR 61.56 review: 10/24/2011.operartor took off from private strip north of Holcomb, KS with load of herbicide. Approximately one mile from base, the engine suddenly lost power. Operator dumped load but was unable to control aircraft. He crashed into an open field and was seriously injured. Kansas highway patrol secured scene. Rescue personnel took operator to hospital. Aircraft was recovered and moved back to operators hanger and secured there. Pilot reported engine operation was normal before take off. On take off he noticed about a 30 RPM drop but still within operating range. He gained about 50 feet of altitude and started losing power. He said that at impact he felt the aircraft roll a little to the right and cartwheel at least once, which caused the hopper tank and engine to become separated from the airframe. The pilot remained in the cockpit with the safety harness intact.
As the FAA filed it
LAST 14 CFR 61.56 REVIEW: 10/24/2011.OPERARTOR TOOK OFF FROM PRIVATE STRIP NORTH OF HOLCOMB, KS WITH LOAD OF HERBICIDE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM BASE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. OPERATOR DUMPED LOAD BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL AIRCRAFT. HE CRASHED INTO AN OPEN FIELD AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL SECURED SCENE. RESCUE PERSONNEL TOOK OPERATOR TO HOSPITAL. AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AND MOVED BACK TO OPERATORS HANGER AND SECURED THERE.PILOT REPORTED ENGINE OPERATION WAS NORMAL BEFORE TAKE OFF. ON TAKE OFF HE NOTICED ABOUT A 30 RPM DROP BUT STILL WITHIN OPERATING RANGE. HE GAINED ABOUT 50 FEET OF ALTITUDE AND STARTED LOSING POWER. HE SAID THAT AT IMPACT HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT ROLL A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT AND CARTWHEEL AT LEAST ONCE, WHICH CAUSED THE HOPPER TANK AND ENGINE TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE COCKPIT WITH THE SAFETY HARNESS INTACT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.