Narrative:

In flight I developed a rough running engine that ended up surging to where I was unable to maintain altitude. Nearest airport was a class D and I proceeded direct; constantly considering landing in a field or golf course due to decreased power. Engine would run for five to ten seconds and then stall for ten to thirty seconds. My aircraft is not equipped with a radio and I did not have a hand held. I entered the class D's airspace; carefully looking for any traffic. I did not have enough power to make a pattern to request a formal light signal clearance. I made a straight in to the runway; which the wind was directly down. I wagged my wings constantly about one mile out until touchdown; constantly gliding due to lost power. My intention of wagging my wings was that the tower operator might see me and give me a light signal to land; but to also create visibility to my aircraft to any other aircraft in the pattern. A bonanza was holding short of the runway; and I kept an eye on that aircraft until my touchdown to make sure we had no conflict. I landed on the runway and immediately exited the runway at the first taxiway. Crossed the dividing lines and pointed the nose of my aircraft toward the tower. I sat with my engine idling for nearly five minutes; hoping I could get a light signal to taxi to the ramp. After sitting for that duration; I decided to taxi to the nearest ramp area at the beginning of the runway. The bonanza was still in the run-up pad when I taxied by; and no other aircraft took off or landed during my taxi transitions. I parked my airplane and chocked it. I called the tower from my cell phone and notified them I was the aircraft that landed due to an emergency without radio contact. The tower operator informed me that he was going to contact his supervisor and that the FSDO would be involved. He asked for my information; north number; certificate number; phone numbers; address etc. I complied. He reiterated that I had landed without clearance and that the FSDO would be involved to handle the situation. I told him I understood; but it was an emergency and I had no other options that I felt were safe. I feel I handled the emergency landing the best that I could and as legally as I could. I had no option of making radio contact; I attempted to obtain light signals; but the tower did not see me. I had no engine power and I had no options. I felt landing at the airport was the best location to land.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Piper J3 pilot experienced a surging engine electing to divert to a nearby towered airport although he had no radio. With insufficient power to continue flight; a landing was made without clearance.

Narrative: In flight I developed a rough running engine that ended up surging to where I was unable to maintain altitude. Nearest airport was a Class D and I proceeded direct; constantly considering landing in a field or golf course due to decreased power. Engine would run for five to ten seconds and then stall for ten to thirty seconds. My aircraft is not equipped with a radio and I did not have a hand held. I entered the Class D's airspace; carefully looking for any traffic. I did not have enough power to make a pattern to request a formal light signal clearance. I made a straight in to the runway; which the wind was directly down. I wagged my wings constantly about one mile out until touchdown; constantly gliding due to lost power. My intention of wagging my wings was that the Tower operator might see me and give me a light signal to land; but to also create visibility to my aircraft to any other aircraft in the pattern. A Bonanza was holding short of the runway; and I kept an eye on that aircraft until my touchdown to make sure we had no conflict. I landed on the runway and immediately exited the runway at the first taxiway. Crossed the dividing lines and pointed the nose of my aircraft toward the Tower. I sat with my engine idling for nearly five minutes; hoping I could get a light signal to taxi to the ramp. After sitting for that duration; I decided to taxi to the nearest ramp area at the beginning of the runway. The Bonanza was still in the run-up pad when I taxied by; and no other aircraft took off or landed during my taxi transitions. I parked my airplane and chocked it. I called the Tower from my cell phone and notified them I was the aircraft that landed due to an emergency without radio contact. The Tower operator informed me that he was going to contact his Supervisor and that the FSDO would be involved. He asked for my information; N number; certificate number; phone numbers; address etc. I complied. He reiterated that I had landed without clearance and that the FSDO would be involved to handle the situation. I told him I understood; but it was an emergency and I had no other options that I felt were safe. I feel I handled the emergency landing the best that I could and as legally as I could. I had no option of making radio contact; I attempted to obtain light signals; but the Tower did not see me. I had no engine power and I had no options. I felt landing at the airport was the best location to land.

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.