Small aircraft pilot has power loss just after takeoff. In right turn, makes it back to runway.

Attributes
ACN	213223
Time
Date	199205
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : wjf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2347 msl bound upper : 2347
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : wjf artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff landing other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 2080 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	213223
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Departed fox field, lancaster, passed over approach end of runway. Requested right hand turn and at that moment or shortly after, began to lose power and made it back to airport. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states the problem seemed to be water in fuel system. Cannot understand how though. He did find water when he drained, so continued to drain several times. Shook wings several times as well. When clear of water, drained 3 more times to assure no water. Also drained engine sump and counted 15 rather than 5 as normal while draining. He was owned plane for 15 yrs and never had such a situation. Does not know what more he could have done.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAS PWR LOSS JUST AFTER TKOF. IN R TURN, MAKES IT BACK TO RWY.

Narrative: DEPARTED FOX FIELD, LANCASTER, PASSED OVER APCH END OF RWY. REQUESTED R HAND TURN AND AT THAT MOMENT OR SHORTLY AFTER, BEGAN TO LOSE PWR AND MADE IT BACK TO ARPT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE WATER IN FUEL SYS. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THOUGH. HE DID FIND WATER WHEN HE DRAINED, SO CONTINUED TO DRAIN SEVERAL TIMES. SHOOK WINGS SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL. WHEN CLR OF WATER, DRAINED 3 MORE TIMES TO ASSURE NO WATER. ALSO DRAINED ENG SUMP AND COUNTED 15 RATHER THAN 5 AS NORMAL WHILE DRAINING. HE WAS OWNED PLANE FOR 15 YRS AND NEVER HAD SUCH A SITUATION. DOES NOT KNOW WHAT MORE HE COULD HAVE 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.