During forced landing training, the aircraft engine failed to respond for several seconds causing a ...

Attributes
ACN	242574
Time
Date	199305
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : uni
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	242574
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In an small aircraft during training for engine out procedures, there was a 5-10 second loss of power (possibly loss of engine, but unsure) where the plane descended to an estimated 300 ft AGL. Earlier in the day there had been problems with achieving usual power. I believe it was spark plug fouling. After a practice stall recovery, the engine took an unusually long (3 second) time to reach full power. The real problem arose when a go around was attempted after a simulated engine-out at an off-airport location. The simulated engine-out had lasted an estimated 2 mins. While on final for a plowed field, the go around was attempted. The engine supplied no power for 5-10 seconds. Therefore, the descent was continued for a possible real emergency landing. Once power was regained (by no action on our part) we spiraled up, staying above the field to 2000 ft AGL and immediately returned to the airport. We were unable to duplicate the problem on the ground. Mechanics were informed, but nothing was found. Possible explanations include: 1) fouled spark plugs, 2) water in tanks (they were checked in pre-flight), 3) not clearing the engine during idle time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING FORCED LNDG TRAINING, THE ACFT ENG FAILED TO RESPOND FOR SEVERAL SECONDS CAUSING A LOSS OF ALT NEAR TO THE GND.

Narrative: IN AN SMA DURING TRAINING FOR ENG OUT PROCS, THERE WAS A 5-10 SECOND LOSS OF PWR (POSSIBLY LOSS OF ENG, BUT UNSURE) WHERE THE PLANE DSNDED TO AN ESTIMATED 300 FT AGL. EARLIER IN THE DAY THERE HAD BEEN PROBS WITH ACHIEVING USUAL PWR. I BELIEVE IT WAS SPARK PLUG FOULING. AFTER A PRACTICE STALL RECOVERY, THE ENG TOOK AN UNUSUALLY LONG (3 SECOND) TIME TO REACH FULL PWR. THE REAL PROB AROSE WHEN A GAR WAS ATTEMPTED AFTER A SIMULATED ENG-OUT AT AN OFF-ARPT LOCATION. THE SIMULATED ENG-OUT HAD LASTED AN ESTIMATED 2 MINS. WHILE ON FINAL FOR A PLOWED FIELD, THE GAR WAS ATTEMPTED. THE ENG SUPPLIED NO PWR FOR 5-10 SECONDS. THEREFORE, THE DSCNT WAS CONTINUED FOR A POSSIBLE REAL EMER LNDG. ONCE PWR WAS REGAINED (BY NO ACTION ON OUR PART) WE SPIRALED UP, STAYING ABOVE THE FIELD TO 2000 FT AGL AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE ARPT. WE WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROB ON THE GND. MECHS WERE INFORMED, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS INCLUDE: 1) FOULED SPARK PLUGS, 2) WATER IN TANKS (THEY WERE CHKED IN PRE-FLT), 3) NOT CLRING THE ENG DURING IDLE 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.

During forced landing training, the aircraft engine failed to respond for several seconds causing a loss of altitude near to the ground.