Private pilot diversion to alternate when his C-152's engine starts to run rough and surge.

Attributes
ACN	311631
Time
Date	199507
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax tower : sna
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 200
ASRS Report	311631
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising in a C-152/U at 6000 ft north wbound on V-23 en route from gillespie (see) to camarillo (cma) the engine began to surge (RPM fluctuation) as I was about to receive an IFR clearance and just passing santa ana/john wayne (sna). I attempted to remedy the problem with the mixture control, but it didn't help. I then turned directly to sna, contacted the tower and informed tower that I was having engine difficulty. I was then cleared to land on runway 19L. The landing was made without incident, however I am concerned that I may have said 'yes' to the question 'do you want to declare an emergency?' I'm hoping this letter will negate any enforcement action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE WHEN HIS C-152'S ENG STARTS TO RUN ROUGH AND SURGE.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING IN A C-152/U AT 6000 FT N WBOUND ON V-23 ENRTE FROM GILLESPIE (SEE) TO CAMARILLO (CMA) THE ENG BEGAN TO SURGE (RPM FLUCTUATION) AS I WAS ABOUT TO RECEIVE AN IFR CLRNC AND JUST PASSING SANTA ANA/JOHN WAYNE (SNA). I ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROB WITH THE MIXTURE CTL, BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. I THEN TURNED DIRECTLY TO SNA, CONTACTED THE TWR AND INFORMED TWR THAT I WAS HAVING ENG DIFFICULTY. I WAS THEN CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 19L. THE LNDG WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT, HOWEVER I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY HAVE SAID 'YES' TO THE QUESTION 'DO YOU WANT TO DECLARE AN EMER?' I'M HOPING THIS LETTER WILL NEGATE ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

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.