FTW04LA227

The 27,940-hour pilot reported that during an aerial application of chemicals, the radial engine on his agricultural airplane began to "cough and pop" prior to a loss of engine power. Upon this loss of power, the pilot executed an emergency landing into a flooded rice field. The airplane impacted the terrain and nosed-over coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the number four cylinder on the engine was cracked at the barrel.

On August 31, 2004, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Grumman 164B agricultural airplane, N8222K, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near East Bernard, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by LL Flying Service of Eagle Lake, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near East Bernard, Texas, at 1700.

In a telephone interview with the a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that the engine began to "cough and pop" prior to a loss of engine power. Upon this loss of power, the pilot elected to execute an emergency landing into a flooded rice field. The airplane impacted the terrain and nosed-over coming to rest in the inverted position.

Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the vertical stabilizer/rudder and both wing struts. The inspector also observed that the number four cylinder on the R-1340 radial engine was cracked at the barrel.

At 1653, the automated weather observing system at the Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR) near Sugar Land, Texas, which was the closest weather reporting station to the site of the accident, reported no wind, 10 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.03 inches of Mercury.