AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301

Full Narrative

On April 7, 2009, at 1206 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 airplane, N36597, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Corning, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The cross country flight was originating from Corning Municipal Airport (4M9), Corning, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated he had just purchased the airplane and the accident flight was his first in that airplane. He and a mechanic examined the airplane prior to flight and did not observe any anomalies with the airplane or engine. The pilot started the engine and allowed it to idle and warm up for fifteen minutes prior to taxiing to takeoff. He stated the preflight and engine run-up were normal.

The pilot reported he was on departure from initial takeoff when the engine "popped" several times and stopped producing power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a rice field off the departure end of the runway. The pilot found the number one cylinder head cracked during a post accident examination of the airplane.

Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left aileron and both horizontal stabilizers bent downward. Examination of the cracked cylinder head was not possible and a cause of the failure was not determined.