FTW98LA258

During the first swath run to apply fertilizer to a corn field, the pilot made a pull-up. After making a turn to the left, the engine began to lose power for an undetermined reason. The pilot 'gave full throttle and leveled the wings.' The engine did not respond, so he initiated a forced landing to a wheat field. During the landing roll, the aircraft went through a fence, did a 'cartwheel,' and came to a stop upright in a cotton field. An examination of the engine was not able to determine the reason for the loss of engine power.

On June 6, 1998, at 1100 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schwiezer G-164A agricultural airplane, N5087, operated by Russell Spraying, Inc., of Lazbuddie, Texas, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Lazbuddie, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the Russell Spraying airstrip, Clays Corner, Texas, about 15 minutes prior to the accident.

The 795 hour pilot reported that he was dispensing fertilizer onto a corn field. He stated that during the pull-up of his first swath run to the south, and after he made a left turn to the east, the engine began to lose power. He then "gave full throttle and leveled the wings." The engine did not respond to the throttle input, so he initiated a forced landing to a wheat field. During the landing roll, the aircraft went through a fence, did a "cartwheel," and came to a stop upright in a cotton field.

Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the radial engine separated from the fuselage. The examination of the engine was not able to determine the reason for the loss of engine power. The wings were structurally damaged, both main landing gear were damaged, and the fuselage aft of the cockpit was displaced to the left.