GA small aircraft had cylinder failure at cruise altitude, diverted to alternate.

Attributes
ACN	112232
Time
Date	198905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mco airport : orl
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco tower : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 780
ASRS Report	112232
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Approximately 15 miles east of orl at 2000' the #3 cylinder lost power, vibrated extremely, with fuel fumes in plane. Called orlando approach, asked for vectors to closest airport. Was within 11 to 13.8 NM of 3 airports and chose orl due to familiarity and offering emergency equipment. Requested closest runway (25) (landing runway was 7). Winds 080 at 15. Plane was smoking, losing oil and fuel from broken cylinder and fuel injection line. Landed without incident. Appears recent work on #3 cylinder was done improperly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA HAD CYLINDER FAILURE AT CRUISE ALT, DIVERTED TO ALTERNATE.

Narrative: APPROX 15 MILES E OF ORL AT 2000' THE #3 CYLINDER LOST POWER, VIBRATED EXTREMELY, WITH FUEL FUMES IN PLANE. CALLED ORLANDO APCH, ASKED FOR VECTORS TO CLOSEST ARPT. WAS WITHIN 11 TO 13.8 NM OF 3 ARPTS AND CHOSE ORL DUE TO FAMILIARITY AND OFFERING EMER EQUIPMENT. REQUESTED CLOSEST RWY (25) (LNDG RWY WAS 7). WINDS 080 AT 15. PLANE WAS SMOKING, LOSING OIL AND FUEL FROM BROKEN CYLINDER AND FUEL INJECTION LINE. LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. APPEARS RECENT WORK ON #3 CYLINDER WAS DONE IMPROPERLY.

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.