N731JFCessna A188B · 1977

On May 7, 2013, at 0931 central daylight time, N731JF, a Cessna Aircraft Company model A188B single-engine airplane was substantially damaged after impacting terrain near Lyons, Kansas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by Rice County Aerial Applicators, Inc., Lyons, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight. The local flight departed at 0928 from Lyons-Rice County Municipal Airport (LYO), Lyons, Kansas.

The pilot reported that he had completed his first northbound spray run and he then made a 45 degree turn to the northeast to return for a southbound spray run. During the turn when he was about 100 feet agl he experienced a loss of power from the engine. The airplane descended and the right wing struck terrain first resulting in an almost complete separation of both the right wing and empennage from the fuselage. The airplane came to rest upright in a flat wheat field. There was a significant fuel spill, but no postimpact fire.

The pilot was able to exit the cockpit unassisted and several witnesses quickly responded to the accident scene. According to the pilot one of the witnesses told him they had heard the engine quit. Another witness was watching the airplane inflight when he heard the engine "struggling" and it sounded like it "was flooding out".

The pilot reported that he had personally refueled the airplane on the day before the accident. He also reported that he had not done a complete preflight examination of the airplane and that he had not checked the fuel tanks nor had he drained the fuel sumps. Weather radar data and witness reports revealed it had rained in the area the night before. A postaccident examination of the airplane disclosed the presence of water contamination in the gascolator, but there were no other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

A postaccident examination and operational test run of the engine showed the ability of the engine to produce rated horsepower.