Emergency landing on state highway due to engine failure.

Attributes
ACN	551036
Time
Date	200206
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dbn.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tower : cmh.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	551036
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Returning home to ZZZ1, I experienced engine roughness about 10 NM south of ZZZ2. I was trying to make ZZZ2, but realized that I would not make it. I informed ATC of my problem and started looking for a suitable place to land. I established best glide. I switched fuel tanks, turned on the fuel pump, and reduced power. Nothing worked. After I landed on the state highway, I drained all the fuel tanks and started the engine. Everything seemed to work fine. Did a run-up and all was normal. After receiving approval from the sheriff's deputy, I took off and had no further problems. I really can't explain what happened but I believe I had fuel contamination that either went through the engine or was drained while on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER LNDG ON STATE HWY DUE TO ENG FAILURE.

Narrative: RETURNING HOME TO ZZZ1, I EXPERIENCED ENG ROUGHNESS ABOUT 10 NM S OF ZZZ2. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE ZZZ2, BUT REALIZED THAT I WOULD NOT MAKE IT. I INFORMED ATC OF MY PROB AND STARTED LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND. I ESTABLISHED BEST GLIDE. I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, TURNED ON THE FUEL PUMP, AND REDUCED PWR. NOTHING WORKED. AFTER I LANDED ON THE STATE HWY, I DRAINED ALL THE FUEL TANKS AND STARTED THE ENG. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE. DID A RUN-UP AND ALL WAS NORMAL. AFTER RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, I TOOK OFF AND HAD NO FURTHER PROBS. I REALLY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED BUT I BELIEVE I HAD FUEL CONTAMINATION THAT EITHER WENT THROUGH THE ENG OR WAS DRAINED WHILE ON THE GND.

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.