Small aircraft has rough engine, makes precautionary landing.

Attributes
ACN	184578
Time
Date	199107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hlg
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : pit
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 1260 flight time type : 55
ASRS Report	184578
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I experienced a loss/reduction of engine power. After attempting to clear possible fuel contamination, I requested radar vectors to the nearest airport with maintenance facilities for a precautionary landing. The landing was made with no problem, however, examination of my plane showed extensive internal engine damage resulting from the failure of an exhaust valve. Further examination of the airframe uncovered a variety of conditions that would indicate that an ineffective annual inspection had been done.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS ROUGH ENG, MAKES PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

Narrative: I EXPERIENCED A LOSS/REDUCTION OF ENG PWR. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CLR POSSIBLE FUEL CONTAMINATION, I REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT WITH MAINT FACILITIES FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. THE LNDG WAS MADE WITH NO PROBLEM, HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF MY PLANE SHOWED EXTENSIVE INTERNAL ENG DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST VALVE. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME UNCOVERED A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT AN INEFFECTIVE ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN DONE.

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.