farwellbooth
Well-Known Member
Had an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone but thougth I'd share. Was able to land at an airport without incidence. While flying level at 8000 (175 hour NOVICE pilot) in a 150 solo mid afternoon the engine immediately drops to windmilling/idle for a brief moment and then back to 2500. I enrichen the mixture. No response and the engine continually oscillates from cruise to nothing cruise to nothing. Second thought ice however it's a million degrees out. Carb heat does nothing. Configure for best glide, this sucker is going down at 500 fpm. Scan panel... master, ignition, magnetos, fuel valve, mess with the power, nothing. While all this is going on I'm looking for a place to land, it's pretty dire. Flew out of Medford, OR NE to Redmond. I'm over very rugged forest. I don't know why but was negotiating with myself whether I should declare an emergency. The trees getting bigger changed my mind. I declared and the tranmission was pretty crappy, they gave me a phone number, couldn't hear nor deal with writing it down. No transponder (no 7700). Did a 180, spotted some fields of which were reachable which significantly assuaged my anxiety. Found a highway also which was ruled out. A big error on my part is that there was a reachable airport I hadn't identified. By shear luck I found it, Prospect State. Thankfully had a little power with the oscillating engine, did two spirals and landed without incident. I just did a bunch of night flying over the same mountains the last two nights. I'm counting my lucky stars... Has to be my all time scary event. A sheriff showed up an hour after landing.
What do you think is wrong with the engine?
Do I need to file an incident report/anything?
Really glad to be here...
What do you think is wrong with the engine?
Do I need to file an incident report/anything?
Really glad to be here...