Pilot of lancair LC30 has partial engine power loss. Receives vectors and makes successful landing.

Attributes
ACN	395801
Time
Date	199803
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdx
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx tower : tys
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 7800 flight time type : 85
ASRS Report	395801
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	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was flying from redmond, or, to portland and was given a descent to 9000 ft and a heading of 240 degrees with direct portland when able, then turned to 190 degrees for vectors to ILS runway 28R at portland. Descending through about 9500 ft, I started to add a little power. The engine didn't respond. I switched fuel tanks, turned on the stand-by fuel pump. The engine didn't respond. I notified ATC that I had at least a partial engine failure, and requested vectors to the nearest airport. They gave me a heading to troutdale airport. I knew I could make it to troutdale without power, but continued to work with the engine to get it running. I broke out of the clouds about 4500 ft above troutdale, but I couldn't see troutdale because of the cloud cover. I did see pdx and was in position to glide to a landing on runway 28R. During my descent I tried leaning the mixture in case it was a turbo spin-down problem. The engine responded a little, but I continued to treat it like a failure because I didn't have any way to confirm what had caused the problem. I landed without further incident with the engine running. The engine and associated system were inspected after the landing. I found everything to be functioning properly. Avoid prolonged low power settings.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LANCAIR LC30 HAS PARTIAL ENG PWR LOSS. RECEIVES VECTORS AND MAKES SUCCESSFUL LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING FROM REDMOND, OR, TO PORTLAND AND WAS GIVEN A DSCNT TO 9000 FT AND A HDG OF 240 DEGS WITH DIRECT PORTLAND WHEN ABLE, THEN TURNED TO 190 DEGS FOR VECTORS TO ILS RWY 28R AT PORTLAND. DSNDING THROUGH ABOUT 9500 FT, I STARTED TO ADD A LITTLE PWR. THE ENG DIDN'T RESPOND. I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, TURNED ON THE STAND-BY FUEL PUMP. THE ENG DIDN'T RESPOND. I NOTIFIED ATC THAT I HAD AT LEAST A PARTIAL ENG FAILURE, AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. THEY GAVE ME A HDG TO TROUTDALE ARPT. I KNEW I COULD MAKE IT TO TROUTDALE WITHOUT PWR, BUT CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE ENG TO GET IT RUNNING. I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS ABOUT 4500 FT ABOVE TROUTDALE, BUT I COULDN'T SEE TROUTDALE BECAUSE OF THE CLOUD COVER. I DID SEE PDX AND WAS IN POS TO GLIDE TO A LNDG ON RWY 28R. DURING MY DSCNT I TRIED LEANING THE MIXTURE IN CASE IT WAS A TURBO SPIN-DOWN PROB. THE ENG RESPONDED A LITTLE, BUT I CONTINUED TO TREAT IT LIKE A FAILURE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WAY TO CONFIRM WHAT HAD CAUSED THE PROB. I LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT WITH THE ENG RUNNING. THE ENG AND ASSOCIATED SYS WERE INSPECTED AFTER THE LNDG. I FOUND EVERYTHING TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AVOID PROLONGED LOW PWR SETTINGS.

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.