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C152 pilot reported a loss of engine power that resulted in a return to the departure airport. The pilot suspected carburetor icing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1463947 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201707 |
| 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 | Cessna 152 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Engine |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Total 122 Flight Crew Type 122 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe |
Narrative:
As the pilot in command of the aircraft; I had done all the necessary preflight actions. The route of flight was [along the coastline] at 5500 feet. As we were cruising down the coastline; I remember the engine ran a little rough; and I turned on the carburetor heat. We flew for approximately 5 minutes before we started losing engine power. It looked like we were going to lose the engine power completely to me. I turned inland and went through the checklist. The engine still seemed as though it was going to turn off completely. I was gliding towards ZZZ1 airport. With the engine still giving slight power pulses; I remember going through the checklist at least 3 times. It was at about 3500 feet that the engine started giving me the power I needed. I kept the aircraft climbing to 6500 feet. Moments later the engine seemed to run smooth again; and so I decided to take the airplane back to ZZZ; [the departure airport]. I landed the aircraft; and I remember the controller asking me if I needed any assistance of some sort. I did not see the need. I taxied the aircraft back to the flying club; and parked it. I then spoke to the dispatcher and the mechanics regarding what had happened and that I suspected it to be carburetor icing.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C152 pilot reported a loss of engine power that resulted in a return to the departure airport. The pilot suspected carburetor icing.
Narrative: As the pilot in command of the aircraft; I had done all the necessary preflight actions. The route of flight was [along the coastline] at 5500 feet. As we were cruising down the coastline; I remember the engine ran a little rough; and I turned on the carburetor heat. We flew for approximately 5 minutes before we started losing engine power. It looked like we were going to lose the engine power completely to me. I turned inland and went through the checklist. The engine still seemed as though it was going to turn off completely. I was gliding towards ZZZ1 airport. With the engine still giving slight power pulses; I remember going through the checklist at least 3 times. It was at about 3500 feet that the engine started giving me the power I needed. I kept the aircraft climbing to 6500 feet. Moments later the engine seemed to run smooth again; and so I decided to take the airplane back to ZZZ; [the departure airport]. I landed the aircraft; and I remember the controller asking me if I needed any assistance of some sort. I did not see the need. I taxied the aircraft back to the flying club; and parked it. I then spoke to the dispatcher and the mechanics regarding what had happened and that I suspected it to be carburetor icing.
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.