Two homebuilts in loose formation inadvertently entered a tfr when they were distracted by abnormal ...

Attributes
ACN	1030091
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	RV-8
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130 Flight Crew Total 10454 Flight Crew Type 477
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125 Flight Crew Total 8850 Flight Crew Type 406
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Airspace Violation All Types

Narrative:

I was approximately a mile in trail of my friend's cj-6 at 2500 ft MSL in VMC. We were both left of track as a direct routing would have placed us slightly into a tfr.approximately 10NM wsw of a major airport my engine began an intermittent; abnormal vibration. I immediately selected full rich on the mixture control and turned on high pressure from the electric fuel pump but the vibration continued to intensify. While I searched for suitable emergency landing areas; I maneuvered to the north of the track toward a four lane divided highway which offered a potential emergency landing surface. I radioed my friend ahead to slip back and look over my airplane for any sign of aircraft damage or fire.I retarded the throttle to reduce vibration and at 1200-1275 RPM the vibration decreased; however airspeed slowed to 85-90 mph. I was able to maintain between 2000-2500 ft MSL. My GPS indicated a major airport ahead; ZZZ; as closest to my position. I continued towards that airport with my speed stabilized and holding altitude. I then asked my friend in the cj-6 to contact the tower and declare my emergency and intention to try for ZZZ. The tower controller sent me immediately to approach control; where I redeclared my emergency and intentions. I also advised approach that I had another aircraft following me for possible assistance; however he had remained on tower frequency apparently not hearing the frequency change to approach. Initially I picked up a westerly heading to fly along another 4-lane highway running west toward the airport. Approach advised me that this road would place me on a right base to the airport and runways. Approach handed me off to tower and I landed safely with the cj-6 following on a low approach. I terminated the emergency upon clearing the active runway. Upon taxi in; tower instructed me and the other pilot to contact approach control upon shutdown. I was advised by approach control of a possible deviation into the tfr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Two homebuilts in loose formation inadvertently entered a TFR when they were distracted by abnormal vibrations in the engine of one of the aircraft. They declared an emergency and the ailing aircraft landed at the nearest suitable airport.

Narrative: I was approximately a mile in trail of my friend's CJ-6 at 2500 FT MSL in VMC. We were both left of track as a direct routing would have placed us slightly into a TFR.Approximately 10NM WSW of a major airport my engine began an intermittent; abnormal vibration. I immediately selected full rich on the mixture control and turned on high pressure from the electric fuel pump but the vibration continued to intensify. While I searched for suitable emergency landing areas; I maneuvered to the north of the track toward a four lane divided highway which offered a potential emergency landing surface. I radioed my friend ahead to slip back and look over my airplane for any sign of aircraft damage or fire.I retarded the throttle to reduce vibration and at 1200-1275 RPM the vibration decreased; however airspeed slowed to 85-90 MPH. I was able to maintain between 2000-2500 FT MSL. My GPS indicated a major airport ahead; ZZZ; as closest to my position. I continued towards that airport with my speed stabilized and holding altitude. I then asked my friend in the CJ-6 to contact the Tower and declare my emergency and intention to try for ZZZ. The Tower Controller sent me immediately to Approach Control; where I redeclared my emergency and intentions. I also advised Approach that I had another aircraft following me for possible assistance; however he had remained on Tower frequency apparently not hearing the frequency change to Approach. Initially I picked up a westerly heading to fly along another 4-lane highway running West toward the airport. Approach advised me that this road would place me on a right base to the airport and runways. Approach handed me off to Tower and I landed safely with the CJ-6 following on a low approach. I terminated the emergency upon clearing the active runway. Upon taxi in; Tower instructed me and the other pilot to contact Approach Control upon shutdown. I was advised by Approach Control of a possible deviation into the TFR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Two homebuilts in loose formation inadvertently entered a tfr when they were distracted by abnormal vibrations in the engine of one of the aircraft. They declared an emergency and the ailing aircraft landed at the nearest suitable airport.