MIA95LA008

The pilot stated the engine failed and he made a forced landing in an orange grove. The operator stated he drained 2 pints of fuel from the aircraft after the accident and that there was no leakage of fuel from the aircraft after the accident. The operator stated the pilot had flown about 2 hours and 15 minutes and that the aircraft burns 35 gallons of fuel per hour. The aircraft has an 80 gallon fuel capacity and was topped off just before departure. No evidence to indicate mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine was found after the accident.

On October 24, 1994, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N3629X, registered to Airwork Enterprises of Florida, Inc., made a forced landing in a citrus grove near Immokalee, Florida, following loss of engine power, while on a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Immokalee, Florida, on October 24, 1994, about 1200.

The pilot stated that the engine failed and he made a forced landing in the grove. He stated he had flown for about 2 hours and should have had fuel for another 30 minutes.

The operator stated he found only 2 pints of fuel in the aircraft after the accident and that there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident. He stated the pilot had flown for about 2 hours 15 minutes and the aircraft uses about 35 gallons of fuel per hour. The aircraft fuel capacity is 80 gallons, and the aircraft was topped off before departure.

Postcrash examination of the engine was accomplished by an FAA inspector. No evidence to indicate precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine or accessories was found.