Narrative:

In preparation for cross country flight from X47 to IRS I was practicing 'engine out' procedures in the pattern at X47. The engine quit after pulling power and I dove the aircraft to maintain airspeed and accomplished a restart also. It took 500 to 600 ft to restart. I attribute the problem to vapor lock at this point as the problem has not recurred. As I accomplished the restart, the engine revved and, of course, the propeller surged. I estimate recovery altitude at about 100-150 ft, 1/4 mi east of the airport. After I regained climb speed, I climbed back to pattern altitude, landed and waited for the engine to cool prior to inspection and my cross country flight. As I understand, a police officer (from flagler county sheriff's department) was summoned to investigate a low flying aircraft. I explained to the officer about power out, and also spoke with him for a few mins. I did not deny I was low. My airport manager, mr xyz, told the officer I was a good pilot but was experiencing personal problems, both true, but neither a factor on my decision to restart the aircraft. I have been turned in to the FAA for an alleged 'buzz job,' which I deny. I have witnesses to my restart. I have no previous revocations, convictions, or suspensions. I am a commercial pilot flying 500 hours per yr and I need my commercial license to make a living. I spoke to the FAA and I don't know of their intentions at this point. Aircraft is small aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS ENG QUIT ON DOWNWIND.

Narrative: IN PREPARATION FOR XCOUNTRY FLT FROM X47 TO IRS I WAS PRACTICING 'ENG OUT' PROCS IN THE PATTERN AT X47. THE ENG QUIT AFTER PULLING PWR AND I DOVE THE ACFT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPD AND ACCOMPLISHED A RESTART ALSO. IT TOOK 500 TO 600 FT TO RESTART. I ATTRIBUTE THE PROB TO VAPOR LOCK AT THIS POINT AS THE PROB HAS NOT RECURRED. AS I ACCOMPLISHED THE RESTART, THE ENG REVVED AND, OF COURSE, THE PROP SURGED. I ESTIMATE RECOVERY ALT AT ABOUT 100-150 FT, 1/4 MI E OF THE ARPT. AFTER I REGAINED CLB SPD, I CLBED BACK TO PATTERN ALT, LANDED AND WAITED FOR THE ENG TO COOL PRIOR TO INSPECTION AND MY XCOUNTRY FLT. AS I UNDERSTAND, A POLICE OFFICER (FROM FLAGLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT) WAS SUMMONED TO INVESTIGATE A LOW FLYING ACFT. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER ABOUT PWR OUT, AND ALSO SPOKE WITH HIM FOR A FEW MINS. I DID NOT DENY I WAS LOW. MY ARPT MGR, MR XYZ, TOLD THE OFFICER I WAS A GOOD PLT BUT WAS EXPERIENCING PERSONAL PROBS, BOTH TRUE, BUT NEITHER A FACTOR ON MY DECISION TO RESTART THE ACFT. I HAVE BEEN TURNED IN TO THE FAA FOR AN ALLEGED 'BUZZ JOB,' WHICH I DENY. I HAVE WITNESSES TO MY RESTART. I HAVE NO PREVIOUS REVOCATIONS, CONVICTIONS, OR SUSPENSIONS. I AM A COMMERCIAL PLT FLYING 500 HRS PER YR AND I NEED MY COMMERCIAL LICENSE TO MAKE A LIVING. I SPOKE TO THE FAA AND I DON'T KNOW OF THEIR INTENTIONS AT THIS POINT. ACFT IS SMA.

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.