What happened
On 4 February 2018, a Europa XS, registration G-JAGY, was conducting a local flight from Wellesbourne Mountford airfield. The pilot, who had recently purchased and imported the aircraft from the United States, was flying to gain experience with the new machine. Approximately fifteen minutes into the flight, while at an altitude of 1,400 ft near Compton Verney, the engine suddenly ceased operation.
Determining there was insufficient altitude to return to the airfield, the pilot altered course to avoid a nearby village and issued a MAYDAY call to Wellesbourne Information. Despite attempts to restart the engine using the starter motor, the engine remained non-operational. The pilot selected a downwind field for a forced landing. Due to the soft ground following recent rain, the nose landing gear dug into the earth upon touchdown, causing the aircraft to nose-over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft to identify the source of the engine failure. The engine's crankshaft turned freely, all four cylinders showed compression, and the spark plugs appeared normal. Testing confirmed that the two electric fuel pumps functioned correctly when powered, and the fuel filters were clear of obstructions. An inspection of the engine following its recent importation and modification revealed that the fuel pressure regulator, filters, turbo control unit, and carburettors had all been replaced.
During the examination, a discrepancy was noted in the electrical configuration of the fuel system. The instrument panel featured switches to manually control power to each electric fuel pump. This setup deviated from the manufacturer's build manual, which specifies that the primary pump should be powered directly from the engine's alternator to ensure continuous operation while the engine is running. This non-standard arrangement was not identified during the initial LAA Permit to Fly inspection.