Narrative:

Departed phx runway 8R on IFR clearance to P06 (bullhead, az) with left turn on vector northbound after passing 2300 ft. During climb to 2300 ft, aircraft experienced partial power loss, then returned to normal power. Left turn was commenced at 2300 ft, handed off to phx departure shortly thereafter. Approximately 5 NM north of phx, aircraft again suffered power fluctuations. Further flight at any altitude northbound would have entered IMC. ATC advised of engine problems and request to return to phx. ATC requested continuation on northbound vector until return worked out with tower. When asked, I declined to declare an emergency at this time, but began immediate left turn back to airport, while still in VMC. Departure handed off for immediate contact phx tower. Contacted tower and was cleared to descend to 2100 ft (traffic pattern altitude) and enter downwind runway 8L. Tower had medium large transport aircraft on 8L, in position, which volunteered to exit runway and tower approved. Second medium large transport aircraft was just across 8L hold line and stopped. I observed distant traffic on final 8L and began base-leg turn. At same time advised tower would like short approach. Tower issued go around to traffic on final (cpr jet) and cleared me to land 8L with restriction not to overly medium large transport aircraft that was over hold line, which was complied with. On parking at FBO, received message to call tower. Was admonished for making short approach and not declaring an emergency. Conclusions: should have declared immediately, and requested short approach or circling on midfield downwind at safe altitude earlier with tower as engine was developing adequate power at time.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR PLT OF SMA SINGLE ENG LAND ACFT EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ENG PWR LOSS SHORTLY AFTER TKOF AND RETURNED TO THE ARPT AN ONCE CAUSING ATC TO MOVE SEVERAL ACFT OUT OF ITS WAY.

Narrative: DEPARTED PHX RWY 8R ON IFR CLRNC TO P06 (BULLHEAD, AZ) WITH L TURN ON VECTOR NBOUND AFTER PASSING 2300 FT. DURING CLB TO 2300 FT, ACFT EXPERIENCED PARTIAL PWR LOSS, THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL PWR. L TURN WAS COMMENCED AT 2300 FT, HANDED OFF TO PHX DEP SHORTLY THEREAFTER. APPROX 5 NM N OF PHX, ACFT AGAIN SUFFERED PWR FLUCTUATIONS. FURTHER FLT AT ANY ALT NBOUND WOULD HAVE ENTERED IMC. ATC ADVISED OF ENG PROBS AND REQUEST TO RETURN TO PHX. ATC REQUESTED CONTINUATION ON NBOUND VECTOR UNTIL RETURN WORKED OUT WITH TWR. WHEN ASKED, I DECLINED TO DECLARE AN EMER AT THIS TIME, BUT BEGAN IMMEDIATE L TURN BACK TO ARPT, WHILE STILL IN VMC. DEP HANDED OFF FOR IMMEDIATE CONTACT PHX TWR. CONTACTED TWR AND WAS CLRED TO DSND TO 2100 FT (TFC PATTERN ALT) AND ENTER DOWNWIND RWY 8L. TWR HAD MLG ACFT ON 8L, IN POS, WHICH VOLUNTEERED TO EXIT RWY AND TWR APPROVED. SECOND MLG ACFT WAS JUST ACROSS 8L HOLD LINE AND STOPPED. I OBSERVED DISTANT TFC ON FINAL 8L AND BEGAN BASE-LEG TURN. AT SAME TIME ADVISED TWR WOULD LIKE SHORT APCH. TWR ISSUED GAR TO TFC ON FINAL (CPR JET) AND CLRED ME TO LAND 8L WITH RESTRICTION NOT TO OVERLY MLG ACFT THAT WAS OVER HOLD LINE, WHICH WAS COMPLIED WITH. ON PARKING AT FBO, RECEIVED MESSAGE TO CALL TWR. WAS ADMONISHED FOR MAKING SHORT APCH AND NOT DECLARING AN EMER. CONCLUSIONS: SHOULD HAVE DECLARED IMMEDIATELY, AND REQUESTED SHORT APCH OR CIRCLING ON MIDFIELD DOWNWIND AT SAFE ALT EARLIER WITH TWR AS ENG WAS DEVELOPING ADEQUATE PWR AT TIME.

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.