N731UF

On September 19, 1993, at 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N731UF, sustained substantial damage following a partial loss of engine power during takeoff near Manila, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight.

The pilot stated on the enclosed Pilot/Operator report, and during interviews conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, that the airplane was loaded with 1,600 pounds of cotton defoliate and that this was the twelfth load of the day. He further stated that this takeoff took much longer than the others. When the tail came up, he had forward visibility and he observed the remaining runway was marginal for a safe takeoff; however, "an abort was not safe because of a ditch at the end of the runway." The pilot continued the takeoff and began dumping the load at the last 200 feet of the runway. The airplane lifted off the runway at 100 feet before the end of the runway; however, it would not accelerate and began descending. At approximately 300 feet off the end of the runway, the pilot shut down the engine, as the spray booms caught in the cotton, and the airplane was pulled to the left and subsequently hit the ground.

Examination of the double wall air induction hose by the operator revealed that the inside wall had separated and was blocking the air flow.