Pilot of an small aircraft sel declared an emergency to ATC after the engine quit during cruise flig...

Attributes
ACN	393960
Time
Date	199802
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : avp airport : wbw
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : avp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Amateur (Home) Built
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 9600 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	393960
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Departed 3g3, wadsworth, oh, on a VFR flight plan to oxc to visit relatives. WX was clear and visibility better than 10 mi. Approximately 10-11 mi west of wilkes barre, while getting flight advisories from approach control, the engine suddenly seized. I immediately slowed to 85 KTS glide speed, and declared an emergency with wilkes barre approach control. The controller responded immediately, asked for number on board and intentions. I told him I had the wilkes barre/scranton airport in sight, and would proceed direct towards it. The controller advised me that the wyoming valley airport was in my 2 O'clock position, and about 2-3 mi closer. Initially, I did not have this airport in sight and continued direct to wilkes barre. One attempt was made to restart the engine, but it had seized and would not turn. This attempt pulled battery voltage down, and I momentarily lost radio contact with wilkes barre approach. Recycling the battery switch fixed the problem. After I re-established radio contact, I picked up wyoming valley airport, and turned towards it because it was closer, and I knew I could make the runway without any trouble. I then told the controller of my decision. He asked if I needed any other assistance. I said no and he gave me valley's unicom frequency. I switched frequencys, announced my arrival, and someone said I could land in any direction I chose. The approach and landing was uneventful and I rolled clear of the runway at the end. I called wilkes barre approach when on the ground, told them I was safely down. They asked I call them on landline later, which I did. They just wanted to make sure I was alright. I also called the tie-in FSS and closed my flight plan. The wilkes barre controller handling my emergency is to be complimented on pointing out the closer airport, keeping me advised of its position, and providing just the right amount of assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL DECLARED AN EMER TO ATC AFTER THE ENG QUIT DURING CRUISE FLT. HE WAS GIVEN A FLT ASSIST TO THE NEAREST ARPT AT WHICH A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LNDG WAS MADE.

Narrative: DEPARTED 3G3, WADSWORTH, OH, ON A VFR FLT PLAN TO OXC TO VISIT RELATIVES. WX WAS CLR AND VISIBILITY BETTER THAN 10 MI. APPROX 10-11 MI W OF WILKES BARRE, WHILE GETTING FLT ADVISORIES FROM APCH CTL, THE ENG SUDDENLY SEIZED. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 85 KTS GLIDE SPD, AND DECLARED AN EMER WITH WILKES BARRE APCH CTL. THE CTLR RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY, ASKED FOR NUMBER ON BOARD AND INTENTIONS. I TOLD HIM I HAD THE WILKES BARRE/SCRANTON ARPT IN SIGHT, AND WOULD PROCEED DIRECT TOWARDS IT. THE CTLR ADVISED ME THAT THE WYOMING VALLEY ARPT WAS IN MY 2 O'CLOCK POS, AND ABOUT 2-3 MI CLOSER. INITIALLY, I DID NOT HAVE THIS ARPT IN SIGHT AND CONTINUED DIRECT TO WILKES BARRE. ONE ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT IT HAD SEIZED AND WOULD NOT TURN. THIS ATTEMPT PULLED BATTERY VOLTAGE DOWN, AND I MOMENTARILY LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH WILKES BARRE APCH. RECYCLING THE BATTERY SWITCH FIXED THE PROB. AFTER I RE-ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT, I PICKED UP WYOMING VALLEY ARPT, AND TURNED TOWARDS IT BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSER, AND I KNEW I COULD MAKE THE RWY WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. I THEN TOLD THE CTLR OF MY DECISION. HE ASKED IF I NEEDED ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE. I SAID NO AND HE GAVE ME VALLEY'S UNICOM FREQ. I SWITCHED FREQS, ANNOUNCED MY ARR, AND SOMEONE SAID I COULD LAND IN ANY DIRECTION I CHOSE. THE APCH AND LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL AND I ROLLED CLR OF THE RWY AT THE END. I CALLED WILKES BARRE APCH WHEN ON THE GND, TOLD THEM I WAS SAFELY DOWN. THEY ASKED I CALL THEM ON LANDLINE LATER, WHICH I DID. THEY JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS ALRIGHT. I ALSO CALLED THE TIE-IN FSS AND CLOSED MY FLT PLAN. THE WILKES BARRE CTLR HANDLING MY EMER IS TO BE COMPLIMENTED ON POINTING OUT THE CLOSER ARPT, KEEPING ME ADVISED OF ITS POS, AND PROVIDING JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.

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.

Pilot of an small aircraft sel declared an emergency to ATC after the engine quit during cruise flight. He was given a flight assist to the nearest airport at which a successful forced landing was made.