N8498K

On September 17, 1996, at 1300 central daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N8498K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial power loss near Ferriday, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private owner and operated by Ag-Cats Inc. under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight which was originating from a private agricultural airstrip at the time of the accident. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight.

The pilot reported that during the airplane's takeoff climb, the engine lost power, and the windshield became coated with oil. The pilot "immediately began a shallow right turn attempting to return to the airstrip." During the descent, the airplane's spray boom caught the tall weeds "causing a loss of airspeed." The airplane impacted the ground short of the runway threshold and came to rest on its nose. The engine separated from the airframe, all four wings were damaged, and the landing gear separated from the fuselage.

The IIC interviewed the salvage yard owner who performed a partial engine examination and tear down. He reported finding metal throughout the engine and one cylinder head was cracked.