Adamaster,
is your assertion the pilot should have landed at YSRI? I passed over RIC shortly after the event. The runway was obscured by Fog.
There is nothing in the ATSB report about organisational, operational and bullying issues with the operators chief pilot, reported to CASA but ignored.
I have experienced an engine failure in the type aircraft and had no problem maintaining height for a considerable distance, over 60 NM.
Listen to the voice of the young pilot on the tapes, he is cool, calm, in control and endeavouring to find solutions to his problem, he flew his aircraft under control to the very end.
I knew this young man very well, he was well trained and very well aware of the limitations of the aircraft he was flying.
You arm chair experts are quick with your condemnation, but you were not there on the day, nor is there anyway to establish what actually occurred.
Suffice it to say, any SAFETY issues that may have been learnt went out the window to protect a vindictive incompetent regulator.