PA28 pilot makes off-airport landing when engine loses power in ZNY airspace.

Attributes
ACN	405692
Time
Date	199806
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etx airport : n32
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1450 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	405692
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Fueled aircraft at cxy, checked tanks during preflight, had 74 gals. Filed IFR flight plan cxy to fok, 7000 ft. Approximately 1 hour out of cxy, switched main fuel tanks from left to right. Experienced loss of power, performed emergency check, called ATC, gave me headings to N31. Broke out at 3000 ft. ATC informed me I was over the airport. I did not have enough time for another 360 degrees. Knowing my cherokee 6-260 has a glide radio of 1.5 mi per 1000 ft, I chose a field and landed safely. I immediately notified flight service. There was no damage to aircraft. No injuries to pilot. ATC is credited in assisting my safe landing. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: pilot states that the engine would not develop more than idle power. He canceled his IFR flight plan and asked for vectors to the nearest airport. He did not declare an emergency. Pilot states that he did not see the field, and elected to continue straight ahead to an off-airport landing. Subsequent inspection revealed water in the fuel. Pilot states that he had just added fuel prior to this flight, had checked the sumps for the presence of water, and found none.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT MAKES OFF-ARPT LNDG WHEN ENG LOSES PWR IN ZNY AIRSPACE.

Narrative: FUELED ACFT AT CXY, CHKED TANKS DURING PREFLT, HAD 74 GALS. FILED IFR FLT PLAN CXY TO FOK, 7000 FT. APPROX 1 HR OUT OF CXY, SWITCHED MAIN FUEL TANKS FROM L TO R. EXPERIENCED LOSS OF PWR, PERFORMED EMER CHK, CALLED ATC, GAVE ME HEADINGS TO N31. BROKE OUT AT 3000 FT. ATC INFORMED ME I WAS OVER THE ARPT. I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR ANOTHER 360 DEGS. KNOWING MY CHEROKEE 6-260 HAS A GLIDE RADIO OF 1.5 MI PER 1000 FT, I CHOSE A FIELD AND LANDED SAFELY. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED FLT SVC. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ACFT. NO INJURIES TO PLT. ATC IS CREDITED IN ASSISTING MY SAFE LNDG. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PLT STATES THAT THE ENG WOULD NOT DEVELOP MORE THAN IDLE PWR. HE CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. HE DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. PLT STATES THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE FIELD, AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD TO AN OFF-ARPT LNDG. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL. PLT STATES THAT HE HAD JUST ADDED FUEL PRIOR TO THIS FLT, HAD CHKED THE SUMPS FOR THE PRESENCE OF WATER, AND FOUND NONE.

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.