FTW96LA094

The pilot reported that the airplane was on its first flight since completion of maintenance. The aerial application flight had flown less than a mile from its takeoff point, when the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a flat soft wheat field. It was also reported to the FAA inspector, that the pilot did not jettison the hopper load, which is part of the emergency landing without engine power procedures for that airplane. The pilot stated that 'when I attempted to flare to land, I lacked enough airspeed to fully stop the descent.' The airplane was structurally damaged during the hard bounced landing. Post impact inspection of the power plant revealed that the fuel line was disconnected from the flow divider.

On January 12, 1996, at 1650 central standard time, a Cessna A188B, N4744Q, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Enid, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated by the Carson Flying Service, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The flight originated from a private airstrip approximately 5 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, the airplane was on it's first flight since completion of maintenance. The aerial application flight had flown less than a mile from it's takeoff point at approximately 150' AGL, when the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a wheat field that "was flat but somewhat soft." The pilot reported to the FAA inspector, that he did not jettison the hopper load, which is part of the emergency landing without engine power procedures for that airplane. The pilot stated that "when I attempted to flare to land, I lacked enough airspeed to fully stop the descent." The airplane bounced twice before coming to rest on its third impact. The left main landing gear separated from the aircraft, both wing tips were damaged, and the engine fire wall was damaged.

The pilot stated that, "after exiting the aircraft, I found the fuel line from the fuel control unit to the flow divider had come off at the flow divider end." According to the engine logbook, the starter adapter had been replaced and the fuel line was disconnected to facilitate the installation. The pilot further stated that the fuel line "had apparently been inadequately torqued during maintenance performed earlier in the day."