GA small aircraft engine failure at 6000' in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	108285
Time
Date	198904
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fkl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : yng
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 476 flight time type : 119
ASRS Report	108285
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We were en route from buf to agc level at 6000' MSL in IMC. I heard a surge. A scan of the gauges showed oil pressure at 0. I called yng approach and declared an emergency. Initially we were given vectors to fkl 20 NM south and then to titusville. At the same time we were cleared to 3200' MSL. On the way to 3200' the plane started to sputter and shake. Passing through 4000' MSL radar contact was lost. At 3200' we were in and out of IMC overcast. I spotted a field that appeared suitable for landing and advised yng approach of my intentions. As we descended we lost radio contact with yng approach and xmissions were relayed through another aircraft. I executed a short and soft field landing with no damage to aircraft, pilot nor passenger. The failure of the engine is as of yet undetermined. I feel however that approach control could help other pilots in the same situation by keeping a simple checklist to read to the pilot. In the plane the pilot is busy and scared and as seen apt to forget important procedures. A calm controller advising him to establish best glide. Fly the airplane, check suction, restart, etc, would be of great help. Certain procedures are the same on all aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ENGINE FAILURE AT 6000' IN IMC.

Narrative: WE WERE ENRTE FROM BUF TO AGC LEVEL AT 6000' MSL IN IMC. I HEARD A SURGE. A SCAN OF THE GAUGES SHOWED OIL PRESSURE AT 0. I CALLED YNG APCH AND DECLARED AN EMER. INITIALLY WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO FKL 20 NM SOUTH AND THEN TO TITUSVILLE. AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE CLRED TO 3200' MSL. ON THE WAY TO 3200' THE PLANE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE. PASSING THROUGH 4000' MSL RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. AT 3200' WE WERE IN AND OUT OF IMC OVCST. I SPOTTED A FIELD THAT APPEARED SUITABLE FOR LNDG AND ADVISED YNG APCH OF MY INTENTIONS. AS WE DSNDED WE LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH YNG APCH AND XMISSIONS WERE RELAYED THROUGH ANOTHER ACFT. I EXECUTED A SHORT AND SOFT FIELD LNDG WITH NO DAMAGE TO ACFT, PLT NOR PAX. THE FAILURE OF THE ENG IS AS OF YET UNDETERMINED. I FEEL HOWEVER THAT APCH CTL COULD HELP OTHER PLTS IN THE SAME SITUATION BY KEEPING A SIMPLE CHKLIST TO READ TO THE PLT. IN THE PLANE THE PLT IS BUSY AND SCARED AND AS SEEN APT TO FORGET IMPORTANT PROCS. A CALM CTLR ADVISING HIM TO ESTABLISH BEST GLIDE. FLY THE AIRPLANE, CHK SUCTION, RESTART, ETC, WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP. CERTAIN PROCS ARE THE SAME ON ALL ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.