What happened
On 30 November 2012, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-AMTF, was conducting a private flight from Lashenden (Headcorn) to Spanhoe near Corlette when the engine began to run roughly. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue by checking each magneto, but the engine continued to malfunction. Shortly after these attempts, a significant amount of smoke emerged from the left side of the engine cowling, and oil was observed running down the side of the fuselage.
As the engine power failed and oil pressure dropped to near zero, the pilot determined that a forced landing was unavoidable. The pilot identified a suitable field for landing, though the available space was constrained by trees, crops, power lines, and telephone lines. Upon touchdown, the aircraft rolled into a fence and a hedge at an estimated speed of 5-10 mph. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The examination of the engine revealed that the No 3 cylinder showed no compression. Despite the loss of oil pressure and the visible oil leak, it was noted that a quantity of oil remained within the oil tank.