SEA96LA020

The pilot reported that during an aerial application spray run, the engine began to run rough and backfire. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and the pilot made a forced landing to an open field. Prior to touchdown, the pilot pulled the airplane up to miss a ditch. The airplane stalled and then landed hard. Postcrash inspection of the engine revealed a crack in the head on the #5 cylinder.

On November 15, 1995, at 1610 Pacific standard time, a Snow S2C, N1694S, experienced a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with rough terrain near Dufer, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight had originated from Culver, Oregon, on November 15, 1995, at 1555.

The pilot reported during an interview and subsequent written statement, that he was spraying a weed killer over a field at approximately ten feet above ground level, when the engine began to run rough and backfire. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field that was straight ahead and uphill. Prior to touch down, the pilot noticed a ditch and pulled up. The airplane stalled then landed hard.

A post-crash inspection of the engine revealed a crack on the number five cylinder head. The crack travelled from the front to the rear spark plug hole. The pilot/owner reported that the engine had accumulated 950 hours since the last overhaul. Total time on the engine is unknown and a history on the cylinder is unknown.