MIA97LA221

The pilot was making a swath run and collided with a cable separating the engine gascolator resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

On July 28, 1997, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 188, N53240, registered to Goldsboro Aerial Crop Spraying Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, experienced a reported total loss of engine power, while maneuvering on a swath run in the vicinity of Benson, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Erwin, North Carolina, about 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he just completed a swath run to a cotton field, and encountered some turbulence about 20 feet above the trees. The airplane descended near the edge of a stall in the vicinity of the trees and power lines. He pulled up to about 250 to 300 feet, and was in a left turn when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He lowered the nose and made a forced landing to an area that had undergone logging operations. The airplane collided with stumps separating the landing gear.

Examination of the airplane revealed, "the aircraft struck a cable at the propeller, the cable disengaged and struck the left wing strut, then traveled below the left wing fouling on the spray boom under and trailing the left wing. The boom was pulled loose and the connection at the boom located under the fuselage center section was pulled in a straight line with the bottom. The routing of the manifold to the boom is located approximately 2 inches forward of the aircraft gascolator. When the boom was pulled from the plane, the manifold for the boom was pulled across the gascolator bowl and disengaged the gascolator bowl.

Examination of the engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. For additional information see letter provided by First In Flight Aviation, Maintenance Supervisor, dated August 5, 1997.

Review of weather information obtained from Raleigh Durham, North Carolina, for the time period of the accident revealed no recorded record of turbulence or downdrafts.

The pilot submitted NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report by fax on August 4, 1997. The report was not signed or dated by the pilot or the operator. Numerous attempts to contact the pilot/operator at (919) 734-1936 were uneventful.