Engine failure, Lydd, today

[CAPP0]

I was on Greatstone beach with the dogs just after noon today. All the light aircraft coming out of Lydd were turning east once airborne out over the sea.

One came over me and as it passed it was obvious that the engine was backfiring massively. Very loud, and it got more and more frequent. I stood and watched and he/she put in a big turn back towards the airport, they were losing height very quickly but the runway isn't far away, so hopefully they landed it back OK! I couldn't see any more once it dropped out of sight behind the houses on The Parade.

[chappj]

That caught my attention as well. I had assumed it was on downwind leg for landing and the backfiring was throttle off overrun.

[ecsrobin]

chappj said:

That caught my attention as well. I had assumed it was on downwind leg for landing and the backfiring was throttle off overrun.

This is often mistaken for engine issues.

[CAPP0]

Ah right, well fair enough. I've never heard a plane doing that before and it did seem to me that he came from the same direction everyone taking off was using and put in a steep turn back towards the runway, but yes, he could have just been in the circuit.