In-flight engine shutdown causes small aircraft twin pilot to return land aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	186849
Time
Date	199108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apa
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7200 msl bound upper : 7200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den tower : pdx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	186849
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I was to ferry aircraft (an small aircraft) to loma airport for repairs to the right engine. Runup, takeoff and climb out were uneventful. Approximately 7 mi west of centennial (apa) the right engine began to lose power in a sort of sputtering action. Attempts to get the engine to run properly failed and a precautionary shutdown was executed. An uneventful landing was made back at apa. Cause of engine trouble not yet determined. Determination of cause of engine power loss #2 (cylinder) valve push rod bent in-flight. Maintenance personnel who worked on the aircraft were asked before the flight if it was ok to fly to home base for repairs. Answer was yes. Only way to avoid situation would be not to fly aircraft or find a better method of engine potential problem analysis.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN CAUSES SMA TWIN PLT TO RETURN LAND ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS TO FERRY ACFT (AN SMA) TO LOMA ARPT FOR REPAIRS TO THE R ENG. RUNUP, TKOF AND CLBOUT WERE UNEVENTFUL. APPROX 7 MI W OF CENTENNIAL (APA) THE R ENG BEGAN TO LOSE PWR IN A SORT OF SPUTTERING ACTION. ATTEMPTS TO GET THE ENG TO RUN PROPERLY FAILED AND A PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN WAS EXECUTED. AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE BACK AT APA. CAUSE OF ENG TROUBLE NOT YET DETERMINED. DETERMINATION OF CAUSE OF ENG PWR LOSS #2 (CYLINDER) VALVE PUSH ROD BENT INFLT. MAINT PERSONNEL WHO WORKED ON THE ACFT WERE ASKED BEFORE THE FLT IF IT WAS OK TO FLY TO HOME BASE FOR REPAIRS. ANSWER WAS YES. ONLY WAY TO AVOID SITUATION WOULD BE NOT TO FLY ACFT OR FIND A BETTER METHOD OF ENG POTENTIAL PROBLEM ANALYSIS.

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.