FTW96LA132

The pilot was spraying a field when the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane landed in the wet field that the pilot was spraying and came to rest in an inverted position. The carburetor, which had recently been overhauled, was found to have been reassembled improperly.

On February 24, 1996, approximately 1130 central standard time, a Grumman G-164A, N48435, registered to and operated by Trites Flying Service, collided with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Dewitt, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight.

The pilot reported that he was spraying a field and, after finishing two short passes, the engine began to lose power. During a turn, the engine lost all power. He further reported that he began to "dump" his load of fertilizer while he looked for a place to land. He elected to land in the wet field he was spraying. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position. The fuselage and both wings were damaged.

The FAA inspector reported that the engine carburetor had recently been overhauled by a certified repair station. The re-assembly of the internal components of the carburetor was incorrect.