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Low time GA pilot on IFR flight experiences generator and engine problems while IMC. Overeagerness to get on the ground leads to a track deviation.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 177197 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199105 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : crp |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : crp |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent : approach |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 10 |
| ASRS Report | 177197 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I took off out of victoria airport and was in IMC at 10000'. I was climbing to 4000' with ATC clearance. Upon reaching 4000', the gen in the aircraft started to malfunction. I called ATC and told them (ATC = ZHU). After a few mins my engine started to miss and went from 2500 RPM to 2100 RPM. I checked the carburetor heat; it wasn't the problem. I also checked the magnetos; no problems there either. I told ATC about my engine problem. My thought was that my gen was malfunctioning; my engine was missing, and I don't know way (I couldn't resolve it), and I was in IMC, so I wanted to get on the ground as soon as possible. After about 20 mins, I was now talking to crp approach and they told me to prepare myself for approach VOR 17. Coming from the north, I was coming closer to crp VOR and ATC (crp approach) told to get on the 011 degree right to go outbnd for a procedure turn. That is where I missed the instructions. I wanted to get on the ground very quickly and I wasn't ready nor prepare to do a procedure turn, thus I missed the radial, and missed again. Finally crp approach helped me get on track and told me to go direct to the crp VOR and get on the 191 degree right (which is the procedure for VOR 17). I did follow that radial, descended to MDA and with crp approach's help found the airport and landed safely.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LOW TIME GA PLT ON IFR FLT EXPERIENCES GENERATOR AND ENGINE PROBLEMS WHILE IMC. OVEREAGERNESS TO GET ON THE GND LEADS TO A TRACK DEVIATION.
Narrative: I TOOK OFF OUT OF VICTORIA ARPT AND WAS IN IMC AT 10000'. I WAS CLBING TO 4000' WITH ATC CLRNC. UPON REACHING 4000', THE GEN IN THE ACFT STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I CALLED ATC AND TOLD THEM (ATC = ZHU). AFTER A FEW MINS MY ENG STARTED TO MISS AND WENT FROM 2500 RPM TO 2100 RPM. I CHKED THE CARB HEAT; IT WASN'T THE PROB. I ALSO CHKED THE MAGNETOS; NO PROBS THERE EITHER. I TOLD ATC ABOUT MY ENG PROB. MY THOUGHT WAS THAT MY GEN WAS MALFUNCTIONING; MY ENG WAS MISSING, AND I DON'T KNOW WAY (I COULDN'T RESOLVE IT), AND I WAS IN IMC, SO I WANTED TO GET ON THE GND ASAP. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINS, I WAS NOW TALKING TO CRP APCH AND THEY TOLD ME TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR APCH VOR 17. COMING FROM THE N, I WAS COMING CLOSER TO CRP VOR AND ATC (CRP APCH) TOLD TO GET ON THE 011 DEG R TO GO OUTBND FOR A PROC TURN. THAT IS WHERE I MISSED THE INSTRUCTIONS. I WANTED TO GET ON THE GND VERY QUICKLY AND I WASN'T READY NOR PREPARE TO DO A PROC TURN, THUS I MISSED THE RADIAL, AND MISSED AGAIN. FINALLY CRP APCH HELPED ME GET ON TRACK AND TOLD ME TO GO DIRECT TO THE CRP VOR AND GET ON THE 191 DEG R (WHICH IS THE PROC FOR VOR 17). I DID FOLLOW THAT RADIAL, DSNDED TO MDA AND WITH CRP APCH'S HELP FOUND THE ARPT AND LANDED SAFELY.
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.