Light twin with engine problems makes forced landing.

Attributes
ACN	147034
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 0q3
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 1 flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	147034
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
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	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While occupying a seat as a passenger in a light twin small aircraft, the aircraft abruptly yawed. The situation appeared to be one of rough running and interruption of power in the power plants. The PIC, appeared to be troubleshooting the problem while maintaining control of the aircraft and descending towards a suitable landing site. During the descent, the problem was not resolved. At a safe altitude, the PI8C committed to a landing into the wind on a flat field and accomplished that maneuver west/O apparent damage to the aircraft and west/O inflicting personal injury. The problem appeared to have involved fuel contamination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT TWIN WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS MAKES FORCED LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE OCCUPYING A SEAT AS A PAX IN A LIGHT TWIN SMA, THE ACFT ABRUPTLY YAWED. THE SITUATION APPEARED TO BE ONE OF ROUGH RUNNING AND INTERRUPTION OF PWR IN THE PWR PLANTS. THE PIC, APPEARED TO BE TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROB WHILE MAINTAINING CTL OF THE ACFT AND DSNDING TOWARDS A SUITABLE LNDG SITE. DURING THE DSNT, THE PROB WAS NOT RESOLVED. AT A SAFE ALT, THE PI8C COMMITTED TO A LNDG INTO THE WIND ON A FLAT FIELD AND ACCOMPLISHED THAT MANEUVER W/O APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND W/O INFLICTING PERSONAL INJURY. THE PROB APPEARED TO HAVE INVOLVED FUEL CONTAMINATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.