SOUTH HAVEN, MI, USA
N21639
Cessna 188B
After pulling up from a swath run, the engine lost power. The pilot then made a forced landing in a blue berry field. Postaccident investigation revealed a failed connecting rod in the engine. The engine had accumulated 1,900 hours since the last overhaul. The manufacturer's recommended interval for overhaul was 1,200 hours. The company owner said that he knew the engine was going to need an overhaul; however, he hoped that it would last until the aerial application season was over.
On August 26, 1997, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N21639, registered to Robertson Crop Dusting Services of South Haven, Michigan, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a crop field near South Haven, Michigan. The pilot reported that the engine lost all power. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed about 1210. A post accident investigation found that there was an internal failure of a connecting rod. The engine had a total time in service since the last major overhaul of 1,900 hours. The manufacturers recommendation for overhaul is 1,200 hours. The owner of the airplane said that he was hoping that the engine would last through the spraying season and that he intended to overhaul it during the off season.
failure of a connecting rod in the engine assembly, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: lack of a recommended engine overhaul, and the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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