Primary finding
Probable cause
Fracture of the engine's number eight cylinder barrel resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
About one hour after takeoff the agricultural airplane's engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain level flight, the pilot elected to land in a corn field. During landing the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane was engulfed in a postcrash fire. An examination of the engine revealed that the partial loss of engine power was due to a fracture in the number eight cylinder barrel, below the spark plug holes.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 3, 2008, about 1300 central daylight time, a single-engine Grumman G-164 agricultural airplane, N520Y, was destroyed during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Stotesbury, Missouri. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. According to the pilot, about one hour after takeoff the engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain level flight, the pilot elected to land in a corn field. During landing the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane was engulfed in a post crash fire. The operator later reported that the partial loss of engine power was due to a fracture in the number eight cylinder barrel below the spark plug holes.