What happened
On 19 April 2014, a Europa aircraft, registration G-TAGR, was conducting a private flight from Perranporth in Cornwall to Bournemouth. Approximately 35 minutes into the journey, while cruising at 3,000 ft, the engine began to misfire. In an attempt to rectify the issue, the pilot activated the fuel pump, which temporarily restored normal engine performance for about 10 minutes before the misfiring recurred. Despite a second attempt to use the fuel pump, the engine continued to malfunction.
The pilot declared a MAYDAY to Exeter ATC and was directed toward Brans．combe Airfield. During the initial approach to the grass airstrip, the aircraft was too high to land directly, necessitating a go-around. During a second approach, the engine continued to produce inconsistent power. The aircraft touched down with only one-third of the runway remaining, and due to concerns regarding an obstacle at the end of the strip, the pilot initiated another go-around.
As the aircraft climbed through 200 ft during this second go-around, the engine began misfiring again and subsequently ceased operation entirely. The pilot performed a forced landing in a nearby ploughed field. While the aircraft initially touched down on its main wheels, the nosewheel dug into the earth after a short ground roll, resulting in damage to the propeller, engine cowling, and nosewheel. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of engine malfunctions and the pilot's attempts to manage the flight. The AAIB reviewed the engine's performance during the various approaches and the circumstances leading to the engine's total failure. The pilot suggested that a blockage within the fuel filter might have been the underlying cause of the intermittent misfiring and the eventual engine stoppage.