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An M20E in cruise at 15000 ft incurred loss of power due to snow clogging intake and impact tubes of the fuel servo. Descent to 12000 ft regained power.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 695306 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200604 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 15000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Snow |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zoa.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | M-20 E Super 21 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 800 |
| ASRS Report | 695306 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eng tach - rpm ind. other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : regained aircraft control |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Environmental Factor Weather Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
In-flight at 15000 ft; snow got into intake and impact tubes of fuel servo due to gasket deterioration around ram-air inlet. Did not notice on preflight. Loss of full power and had to descend. Engine regained power upon 3000 ft descent to 12000 ft. Could have done better preflight but very difficult to assess ram air door gasket. Could have not flown in snow but no icing forecast and no icing occurred in-flight. Poh says ram air door must be closed in snow and clouds (visible moisture).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN M20E IN CRUISE AT 15000 FT INCURRED LOSS OF PWR DUE TO SNOW CLOGGING INTAKE AND IMPACT TUBES OF THE FUEL SERVO. DSCNT TO 12000 FT REGAINED PWR.
Narrative: INFLT AT 15000 FT; SNOW GOT INTO INTAKE AND IMPACT TUBES OF FUEL SERVO DUE TO GASKET DETERIORATION AROUND RAM-AIR INLET. DID NOT NOTICE ON PREFLT. LOSS OF FULL PWR AND HAD TO DSND. ENG REGAINED PWR UPON 3000 FT DSCNT TO 12000 FT. COULD HAVE DONE BETTER PREFLT BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO ASSESS RAM AIR DOOR GASKET. COULD HAVE NOT FLOWN IN SNOW BUT NO ICING FORECAST AND NO ICING OCCURRED INFLT. POH SAYS RAM AIR DOOR MUST BE CLOSED IN SNOW AND CLOUDS (VISIBLE MOISTURE).
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.