N8151K

On July 13, 2000, at 1630 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B agricultural airplane, N8151K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power near Kaplan, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Vincent Flying Service, Inc., of Kaplan, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the operator's private grass airstrip at 1600.

According to the pilot, he completed his 12th application flight of the day and was returning to the operator's airstrip. The airplane was in cruise flight at 200 feet agl when the engine began to "run rough, pop, and then quit." During the ensuing forced landing to a rice field, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, the empennage was bent 180 degrees and "the vertical stabilizer and rudder were resting on the cockpit." He added that the wing struts were bent. Fuel was observed in both wing fuel tanks. The 600-horsepower Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine had accumulated a total of 7,386 hours (1,182 hours since overhaul) and underwent its most recent annual inspection on February 17, 2000, approximately 300 hours prior to the accident.

The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.