From my post on the thread on same subject in the main R&N board:
From an amateur's point of view:
Engine surge near home base where there's lots of engo support, hotels and punters' homes for them to go back to if necessary. And a nice, 13,000'-long strip. Plus the possibility of being able to get another airframe ready reasonably quickly.
Shut down as a precaution rather than suffer a nasty case of press-on-itis.
Dump juice to get under weight, can fly happily on three for as long as you like and no screaming need for an immediate overweight return.
Decent weather.
Keep the punters happy and any nerves to a minimum. Smiles on dials.
Put her down, walk away and put the punters on another aircraft.
Sounds like the planning and training worked well, professionally handled, a good job done by all involved and a bit of a non-event in the end.
QED.
That said, I can understand why a loud noise and a bit of flame coming from an aircraft's donk would cause a bit of talk on the ground.
Tail wheel,