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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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Lancair pilot; climbing through 11000 feet experiences a sudden loss of power and advises ATC. Clearance is granted direct to the departure airport and with the engine producing partial power is easily achieved. Post flight reveals that the right turbocharger had seized.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1284036 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201507 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.TRACON |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Lancair ES |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Exhaust Turbo Charger |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25 Flight Crew Total 1600 Flight Crew Type 775 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe |
Narrative:
I departed IFR and was cleared to climb straight through the bravo without the typical reroute to west. This turned out to be rather fortuitous. At approximately 11;000 feet; at full power during my climb to FL190; the engine stuttered; then the power dropped from 100% to about 40%. I followed the emergency check list - boost pump; switch tanks; etc; but to no avail. I told ATC I had lost some but not all engine power. ATC offered me ZZZ. However; realizing my decision would most likely impede access to the chosen airport until I had landed; I calculated that; given my altitude; I could make it back to my home base even if I lost all engine power. I requested that and was given a direct route. I maintained what altitude I could and made an uneventful landing at my departure airport. Prior to landing; I advised the tower that I still had some engine power and did not need any emergency vehicles. I was able to taxi under my own power to my hangar. I immediately removed the cowling. The a&P from the FBO; which is across from my hangar; came over to help. He discovered that my right turbocharger had seized. He referred me to a shop in the valley which does repair exchanges. I ordered a replacement that day and replaced it [mid week]. I did a successful flight with the new turbo on [toward end of week]; confirming it was the cause of the loss of power.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Lancair pilot; climbing through 11000 feet experiences a sudden loss of power and advises ATC. Clearance is granted direct to the departure airport and with the engine producing partial power is easily achieved. Post flight reveals that the right turbocharger had seized.
Narrative: I departed IFR and was cleared to climb straight through the bravo without the typical reroute to west. This turned out to be rather fortuitous. At approximately 11;000 feet; at full power during my climb to FL190; the engine stuttered; then the power dropped from 100% to about 40%. I followed the emergency check list - boost pump; switch tanks; etc; but to no avail. I told ATC I had lost some but not all engine power. ATC offered me ZZZ. However; realizing my decision would most likely impede access to the chosen airport until I had landed; I calculated that; given my altitude; I could make it back to my home base even if I lost all engine power. I requested that and was given a direct route. I maintained what altitude I could and made an uneventful landing at my departure airport. Prior to landing; I advised the tower that I still had some engine power and did not need any emergency vehicles. I was able to taxi under my own power to my hangar. I immediately removed the cowling. The A&P from the FBO; which is across from my hangar; came over to help. He discovered that my right turbocharger had seized. He referred me to a shop in the valley which does repair exchanges. I ordered a replacement that day and replaced it [mid week]. I did a successful flight with the new turbo on [toward end of week]; confirming it was the cause of the loss of power.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.