N8255K

On September 7, 2000, at 0815 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B agricultural airplane, N8255K, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Erick, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by James Aerial Spraying of Sayre, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the Sayre Municipal Airport at 0800.

During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was in a turn for the second pass over a field when the engine started to "flutter and lose power." The pilot added that he applied full power on the engine controls; however, the engine tachometer indicated approximately 1,500-1,600 RPM. The pilot dumped the load and set up for a forced landing in the field. Upon touchdown, the airplane approached a slope in the field, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The empennage was structurally damaged.

The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.