Narrative:

Partial, then almost complete loss of power on climb out through 1200 ft. I immediately made a 180 degree turn back to runway and declared an emergency. Engine restored power on its own, though running rough. I went through quick checklist: carburetor heat on, fuel pump verify was on, mixture rich. I landed with power and taxied -- engine running a little rough. The tanks were full, and I sampled all 3 points for water and sediment during the preflight. I also switched fuel tanks on the ground run-up to verify flow. The run-up was smooth, magnetos and carburetor heat ok. Engine instruments were in green during takeoff roll. Looking back I am aware how emergency training during my private really took over, but am concerned about my altitude making the turn back to the runway. I have read many reports on how strongly the desire to turn back can be. As a CFI, I will go up to altitude and make each of my students practice how much altitude it takes to do a 180 degree gliding turn. Also, on every climb out I will orally say to myself the designated 'turn back' altitude so there will not be the question to deal with when the situation arises. The ATC facility was professional, helpful and offered/complied with everything I asked for. Their assistance (and voice tone) calmed the passenger and myself, and made dealing with the situation much easier. Inactions -- I did not switch the fuel tanks, though I verified the fuel pump was on. I do not remember checking the engine instruments. This aircraft has a history among the flight instructors for having a 'bug' -- though maintenance cannot find anything substantial in most cases. We still have not found the cause as of yet.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSTRUCTOR PLT WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD HAD A PWR LOSS AFTER TKOF AND SUCCESSFULLY TURNED BACK TO THE ARPT AND LANDED WITH THE ENG RUNNING ROUGHLY. THE INSTRUCTOR QUESTIONS SOME OF THE DECISIONS MADE DURING THE TURN BACK.

Narrative: PARTIAL, THEN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF PWR ON CLBOUT THROUGH 1200 FT. I IMMEDIATELY MADE A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO RWY AND DECLARED AN EMER. ENG RESTORED PWR ON ITS OWN, THOUGH RUNNING ROUGH. I WENT THROUGH QUICK CHKLIST: CARB HEAT ON, FUEL PUMP VERIFY WAS ON, MIXTURE RICH. I LANDED WITH PWR AND TAXIED -- ENG RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. THE TANKS WERE FULL, AND I SAMPLED ALL 3 POINTS FOR WATER AND SEDIMENT DURING THE PREFLT. I ALSO SWITCHED FUEL TANKS ON THE GND RUN-UP TO VERIFY FLOW. THE RUN-UP WAS SMOOTH, MAGNETOS AND CARB HEAT OK. ENG INSTS WERE IN GREEN DURING TKOF ROLL. LOOKING BACK I AM AWARE HOW EMER TRAINING DURING MY PVT REALLY TOOK OVER, BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY ALT MAKING THE TURN BACK TO THE RWY. I HAVE READ MANY RPTS ON HOW STRONGLY THE DESIRE TO TURN BACK CAN BE. AS A CFI, I WILL GO UP TO ALT AND MAKE EACH OF MY STUDENTS PRACTICE HOW MUCH ALT IT TAKES TO DO A 180 DEG GLIDING TURN. ALSO, ON EVERY CLBOUT I WILL ORALLY SAY TO MYSELF THE DESIGNATED 'TURN BACK' ALT SO THERE WILL NOT BE THE QUESTION TO DEAL WITH WHEN THE SIT ARISES. THE ATC FACILITY WAS PROFESSIONAL, HELPFUL AND OFFERED/COMPLIED WITH EVERYTHING I ASKED FOR. THEIR ASSISTANCE (AND VOICE TONE) CALMED THE PAX AND MYSELF, AND MADE DEALING WITH THE SIT MUCH EASIER. INACTIONS -- I DID NOT SWITCH THE FUEL TANKS, THOUGH I VERIFIED THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON. I DO NOT REMEMBER CHKING THE ENG INSTS. THIS ACFT HAS A HISTORY AMONG THE FLT INSTRUCTORS FOR HAVING A 'BUG' -- THOUGH MAINT CANNOT FIND ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL IN MOST CASES. WE STILL HAVE NOT FOUND THE CAUSE AS OF YET.

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.