What happened
During a local flight at Bridport Aerodrome in Tasmania, a crew of two was performing a series of touch-and-go circuits in an amateur-built Europa Classic, registration VH-BWI. During the takeoff phase of the third circuit, the engine began to run roughly before suffering a total loss of power. The pilots were forced to perform an emergency landing in a nearby paddock.
As a result of the impact, the aircraft sustained moderate damage, and one pilot suffered spinal injuries.
The investigation
An investigation was initiated to examine the operational and maintenance aspects of the event. The inquiry focused on the effectiveness of associated risk controls and their role in the sequence of events leading to the engine failure.