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An SR20 pilot experienced a rough running engine shortly after takeoff. The pilot returned to takeoff airport and found the right magneto had failed.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 827917 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200903 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | SR20 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Cowl Flap |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60 Flight Crew Total 550 Flight Crew Type 20 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
I had just completed a dual lesson in the cirrus SR20. The plane ran fine. About 1/2 hour later; I took the same plane again; this time solo. I did preflight before takeoff checks. I did an engine run-up and it seemed fine. Magneto check was within limits. Shortly after takeoff; at about 1;000 ft; the engine began to sputter and ran very roughly. It sounded as though someone was yanking back and forth on the throttle. The RPM was dropping/recovering about 400 RPM every few seconds. I immediately called for a turn back to the airport to land. The tower controller kept traffic out of the way and cleared me to land runway xx (I had taken off runway xy) as it was the easiest to land on from my position. I made a safe landing and taxied back to the ramp. A few minutes later; I went back to the plane to do a run-up to try to diagnose the problem. When the key was placed on 'right' (right magneto); the engine quit. It appears that the right magneto failed in the timeframe between run-up and takeoff. I left the plane overnight for maintenance. I feel that I made the appropriate plan of action. I was not able to diagnose the problem from the air and decided it is much better to worry about it on the ground. The tower controller was very helpful in helping me to get back swiftly.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An SR20 pilot experienced a rough running engine shortly after takeoff. The pilot returned to takeoff airport and found the right magneto had failed.
Narrative: I had just completed a dual lesson in the Cirrus SR20. The plane ran fine. About 1/2 hour later; I took the same plane again; this time solo. I did preflight before takeoff checks. I did an engine run-up and it seemed fine. Magneto check was within limits. Shortly after takeoff; at about 1;000 FT; the engine began to sputter and ran very roughly. It sounded as though someone was yanking back and forth on the throttle. The RPM was dropping/recovering about 400 RPM every few seconds. I immediately called for a turn back to the airport to land. The Tower Controller kept traffic out of the way and cleared me to land Runway XX (I had taken off Runway XY) as it was the easiest to land on from my position. I made a safe landing and taxied back to the ramp. A few minutes later; I went back to the plane to do a run-up to try to diagnose the problem. When the key was placed on 'R' (right magneto); the engine quit. It appears that the right magneto failed in the timeframe between run-up and takeoff. I left the plane overnight for maintenance. I feel that I made the appropriate plan of action. I was not able to diagnose the problem from the air and decided it is much better to worry about it on the ground. The Tower Controller was very helpful in helping me to get back swiftly.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.