ATL02LA015

According to the pilot, while conducting a routine aerial application swath run, the airplane's engine lost power and collided with a berm during an emergency landing. Examination of the engine assembly disclosed that the engine driven fuel pump failed as the pilot maneuvered a swath run. The examination also discovered metal debris in the fuel screen assembly that restricted fuel flow. When the debris was removed, fuel flow returned to normal.

On October 17, 2001, at 1110 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N4784R, registered to a private owner and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with a berm during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power near Whiteville, Tennessee. The aerial application flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight departed William L. Whitehurst Field in Bolivar, Tennessee, at 0930.

According to the pilot, while conducting a spray run across a cotton field, the engine lost power. He pulled up to clear the trees and tried to restart the engine. He stated that the prop was windmilling, and he had approximately six to eight seconds to attempt the restart before the emergency landing. The pilot landed in an open field north of where he was making his spray run. The airplane touched down and collided with a four-foot terrace in a small washout area. The airplane turned sideways and slid to a stop.

When the airplane collided into the washout area, the tail section separated from the airframe. During the post-accident examination of the airplane, metal debris was recovered from the fuel screen assembly. Further examination of the fuel screen revealed partial blockage and fuel flow restriction. After the screen was cleaned, fuel flow returned to normal. An auxiliary pump was used to check the fuel flow; the engine-driven fuel pump had malfunctioned.