WPR14LA267

The pilot of the agricultural aerial application flight reported that, while he was returning to base and when the airplane was about 300 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly lost all power. He attempted to land on a road, but the airplane was unable to reach it, so he landed in a flooded field. During the landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane abruptly stopped and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator did not provide any aircraft logbooks for examination nor did the operator make the airplane available for examination.

On June 23, 2014, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B airplane, N61150 sustained substantial damage when it nosed over, during an off-airport landing, following a loss of engine power. The airplane was being operated by Farm Air Flying Service Inc., Sacramento, California, as a visual flight rules (VFR) agricultural aerial application flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the solo pilot received minor injuries. The airplane departed a private company airstrip, and company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 24, a company representative said the pilot reported that the engine lost power while maneuvering at a low altitude during a crop spraying operation. He glided the airplane for landing into a rice field, which was submerged under about 10 inches of water with a soft bottom. During the landing, the tailwheel equipped airplane came to an abrupt stop and nosed over. The operator said he would not elaborate further prior to talking directly with the pilot. There were no reported mechanical anomalies prior to the loss of engine power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. In a written statement dated September 16, provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that he was returning to base, about 300 feet above ground level when the engine suddenly lost all power. He said he attempted to glide to a farm road, but unable to reach the road he landed in a flooded field. Following the initial contact with the NTSB IIC, the operator did not return any phone calls or emails from the IIC, and did not submit the NTSB 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form as requested. No aircraft logbooks were presented for examination, and the operator did not make the airplane available for examination.