Narrative:

The event took place after radar contact was established with homestead approach in fl. After radar contact was established, I was cleared for a VFR climb to 2500'. Upon reaching 2500', with first power reduction, a significant loss of engine power was noted. After engaging a fuel boost pump and switching tanks the problem was rectified; however, an altitude loss of approximately 1200' was incurred. Once corrected, I notified approach of my recovery and the continuation of my flight. After climbing to 2500' and stating my desire to continue, approach cancelled my radar and I was told to squawk VFR. Although it was solely my decision to continue after establishing the cause of the problem, I was dismayed at the fact my flight following was discontinued at such point. I am aware of the fact that flight following is of lesser priority but its continuance at that time would have been helpful. After asking for a continuance, approach gave me a frequency for miami center who was unreachable. Radio communications in that area are difficult at times; however, more of an effort could have been made for contact. In general, my attitude and experience with approach and center frequencys has been one of great aid in respect to flight following. The flight continued smoothly and safely to its conclusion and the event was somewhat forgotten. Although radar flight following is limited by a great number of factors, it is my belief that it could have continued under those circumstances. Understandably, if miami center was not reachable because of radio difficulties, or interference my points are irrelevant. The event was a small one, but I felt it necessary to voice my concerns. One final note, the engine problem arose from slight fuel contamination and was corrected upon discovery.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA EXPERIENCES ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO COMTAMINATED FUEL. THIS RESULTED IN AN ALT DEVIATION, AND THE REPORTER'S DISPLEASURE WITH HAVING RADAR SERVICE CANCELLED ON HIM IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF HIS PROBLEM.

Narrative: THE EVENT TOOK PLACE AFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH HOMESTEAD APCH IN FL. AFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED, I WAS CLRED FOR A VFR CLB TO 2500'. UPON REACHING 2500', WITH FIRST PWR REDUCTION, A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ENG PWR WAS NOTED. AFTER ENGAGING A FUEL BOOST PUMP AND SWITCHING TANKS THE PROB WAS RECTIFIED; HOWEVER, AN ALT LOSS OF APPROX 1200' WAS INCURRED. ONCE CORRECTED, I NOTIFIED APCH OF MY RECOVERY AND THE CONTINUATION OF MY FLT. AFTER CLBING TO 2500' AND STATING MY DESIRE TO CONTINUE, APCH CANCELLED MY RADAR AND I WAS TOLD TO SQUAWK VFR. ALTHOUGH IT WAS SOLELY MY DECISION TO CONTINUE AFTER ESTABLISHING THE CAUSE OF THE PROB, I WAS DISMAYED AT THE FACT MY FLT FOLLOWING WAS DISCONTINUED AT SUCH POINT. I AM AWARE OF THE FACT THAT FLT FOLLOWING IS OF LESSER PRIORITY BUT ITS CONTINUANCE AT THAT TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. AFTER ASKING FOR A CONTINUANCE, APCH GAVE ME A FREQ FOR MIAMI CTR WHO WAS UNREACHABLE. RADIO COMS IN THAT AREA ARE DIFFICULT AT TIMES; HOWEVER, MORE OF AN EFFORT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE FOR CONTACT. IN GENERAL, MY ATTITUDE AND EXPERIENCE WITH APCH AND CTR FREQS HAS BEEN ONE OF GREAT AID IN RESPECT TO FLT FOLLOWING. THE FLT CONTINUED SMOOTHLY AND SAFELY TO ITS CONCLUSION AND THE EVENT WAS SOMEWHAT FORGOTTEN. ALTHOUGH RADAR FLT FOLLOWING IS LIMITED BY A GREAT NUMBER OF FACTORS, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT COULD HAVE CONTINUED UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. UNDERSTANDABLY, IF MIAMI CTR WAS NOT REACHABLE BECAUSE OF RADIO DIFFICULTIES, OR INTERFERENCE MY POINTS ARE IRRELEVANT. THE EVENT WAS A SMALL ONE, BUT I FELT IT NECESSARY TO VOICE MY CONCERNS. ONE FINAL NOTE, THE ENG PROB AROSE FROM SLIGHT FUEL CONTAMINATION AND WAS CORRECTED UPON DISCOVERY.

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.