CEN18LA342

The pilot was performing an aerial application flight with the airplane loaded with product near its maximum gross weight. As the pilot pulled up to reverse course after the second application pass, the airplane did not fly as expected. Because of his low altitude, he conducted a forced landing in the cornfield. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to left wing, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizers, elevators, and rudder. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the cylinders had low compression. This would have resulted in a partial loss of engine power. It is likely the airplane was at a low energy state during the pull-up maneuver to reverse direction, and the partial engine power loss would have further reduced the airplane's energy. These issues, combined with the airplane's high gross weight, would have made sustained flight difficult.

***This report was modified on July 2, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On August 17, 2018, about 1815 central daylight time, a Cessna A188 airplane, N9076R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Whitewater, Kansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the airplane departed on an aerial application flight from a nearby airport at 1800. The airplane was loaded with applicant bringing it near it's maximum gross weight. The flight was normal until the second application pass, As the pilot pulled up to reverse course, the airplane did not fly as expected. Due to the low altitude, the pilot attempted to dump the applicant and conducted a forced landing in the cornfield. The pilot was able to flare the airplane prior to impacting in the cornfield. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to left wing, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizers, elevators, and rudder. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors performed a limited examination when the airplane was removed from the cornfield and could not find any preimpact anomalies with the airframe and engine. Once recovered to a maintenance facility it was discovered that one of the engine cylinders could only hold 10 psi of pressure.