I hate seeing crashes like this that lead to such horrific injuries. Sometimes the victims hang on for a month before succumbing. I really hope he pulls through. He clearly did an impressive job integrating the Eggenfellner E-6, a Subaru engine, into the RV8 and put a lot of effort into it. The problem is, automotive engines just aren’t meant to function as aircraft engines. The design criteria are different. It is strange to me why some are particularly drawn to using automotive engines and you can't seem to reason with them otherwise. I don't know the psychology for that, but I am sure there is one.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/562420
A Van's RV-8 experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff from Old Station Airfield, Raglan, Queensland, and made an emergency landing in a field and hit a fallen tree and caught fire.
The pilot suffered life-threatening burning injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed by the post impact fire.
