Banner towing pilot could not get sufficient power from the small aircraft sel aircraft to climb aft...

Attributes
ACN	345937
Time
Date	199608
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 250 msl bound upper : 250
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lgb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	345937
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:

I was asked to tow a few banners on the holidays for a company that I had towed for in the past. I had not towed in about 1 1/2 yrs, but thought no problem, I have been flying corporate for the past yr. When I showed up for the job I did not ask for a check out on the new aircraft or a refresher on towing. I did a normal takeoff on runway 25R. Picked up the banner and started to climb out. In a short time I realized I was unable to gain altitude. I called the tower, requested a return and was cleared to land runway of my choice. I opted to make a normal pattern and try to drop the banner for reuse. Getting too low on final and not having the power I kept the banner over a parking lot. The banner hung up on a fence and I released it, landed without incident. In retrospect, an aircraft chkout and recurrence flight on banner towing would have helped. After landing I was informed that the tachometer read opposite to all other that I have ever used. If not careful and read incorrectly, you could decrease RPM while needing to increase it, giving you less power than needed to tow a banner. An aircraft chkout again should have been performed. Just because you did it at one time doesn't mean you will always stay proficient.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BANNER TOWING PLT COULD NOT GET SUFFICIENT PWR FROM THE SMA SEL ACFT TO CLB AFTER PICKING UP BANNER RESULTING IN RETURNING TO LAND.

Narrative: I WAS ASKED TO TOW A FEW BANNERS ON THE HOLIDAYS FOR A COMPANY THAT I HAD TOWED FOR IN THE PAST. I HAD NOT TOWED IN ABOUT 1 1/2 YRS, BUT THOUGHT NO PROB, I HAVE BEEN FLYING CORPORATE FOR THE PAST YR. WHEN I SHOWED UP FOR THE JOB I DID NOT ASK FOR A CHK OUT ON THE NEW ACFT OR A REFRESHER ON TOWING. I DID A NORMAL TKOF ON RWY 25R. PICKED UP THE BANNER AND STARTED TO CLB OUT. IN A SHORT TIME I REALIZED I WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALT. I CALLED THE TWR, REQUESTED A RETURN AND WAS CLRED TO LAND RWY OF MY CHOICE. I OPTED TO MAKE A NORMAL PATTERN AND TRY TO DROP THE BANNER FOR REUSE. GETTING TOO LOW ON FINAL AND NOT HAVING THE PWR I KEPT THE BANNER OVER A PARKING LOT. THE BANNER HUNG UP ON A FENCE AND I RELEASED IT, LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN RETROSPECT, AN ACFT CHKOUT AND RECURRENCE FLT ON BANNER TOWING WOULD HAVE HELPED. AFTER LNDG I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TACHOMETER READ OPPOSITE TO ALL OTHER THAT I HAVE EVER USED. IF NOT CAREFUL AND READ INCORRECTLY, YOU COULD DECREASE RPM WHILE NEEDING TO INCREASE IT, GIVING YOU LESS PWR THAN NEEDED TO TOW A BANNER. AN ACFT CHKOUT AGAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. JUST BECAUSE YOU DID IT AT ONE TIME DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL ALWAYS STAY PROFICIENT.

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.

Banner towing pilot could not get sufficient power from the small aircraft sel aircraft to climb after picking up banner resulting in returning to land.