Precautionary landing account loss off engine power.

Attributes
ACN	169716
Time
Date	199102
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : esl airport : ekn
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ckb
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 830 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	169716
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While cruising at 8000' MSL and at 2400 RPM, I noticed a significant power loss (approximately 400 RPM). Upon noticing this I applied full carburetor heat. (The knob was pulled out 1/3 of the way before this power loss occurred.) engine power was very intermittent and the engine eventually lost all power. I was not able to maintain altitude. I received vectors to the nearest airport, which was elkins, wv. While en route to elkins power was restored and I gained back a little altitude and circled over elkins for a precautionary landing. There was plenty of fuel and no contaminates in the fuel. Before I experience this problem I had previously applied and left on some carburetor heat, so I do not believe the power loss was the result of carburetor ice. The problem may have been caused by bad mags, although once on the ground the magnetic drop was normal. The aircraft is still at elkins waiting for working to be done on it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRECAUTIONARY LNDG ACCOUNT LOSS OFF ENGINE POWER.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT 8000' MSL AND AT 2400 RPM, I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT PWR LOSS (APPROX 400 RPM). UPON NOTICING THIS I APPLIED FULL CARB HEAT. (THE KNOB WAS PULLED OUT 1/3 OF THE WAY BEFORE THIS PWR LOSS OCCURRED.) ENG PWR WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AND THE ENG EVENTUALLY LOST ALL PWR. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. I RECEIVED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT, WHICH WAS ELKINS, WV. WHILE ENRTE TO ELKINS PWR WAS RESTORED AND I GAINED BACK A LITTLE ALT AND CIRCLED OVER ELKINS FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL AND NO CONTAMINATES IN THE FUEL. BEFORE I EXPERIENCE THIS PROB I HAD PREVIOUSLY APPLIED AND LEFT ON SOME CARB HEAT, SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PWR LOSS WAS THE RESULT OF CARB ICE. THE PROB MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD MAGS, ALTHOUGH ONCE ON THE GND THE MAG DROP WAS NORMAL. THE ACFT IS STILL AT ELKINS WAITING FOR WORKING TO BE DONE ON IT.

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.