Small aircraft experiences partial engine failure during INS training flight and makes precautionary...

Attributes
ACN	149163
Time
Date	199006
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : olm
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 85
ASRS Report	149163
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was flying with a student (INS student) from S36 to tiw-ocm-mnc-tiw. We went VFR S36 direct to tiw and picked up IFR clearance at tiw. Mode C was indicating 800' high (which we didn't know at first). We were VFR at 1400' (mode C indicating 2200') in an area south of sea where floor or TCA was 1600'. Picked up IFR clearance at tiw, radar vector to ocm, direct to olm VOR for VOR 17 approach at olm. 1/2 way there engine began to run rough and lose RPM's. We had a cloud layer below us between us and olm, but were VFR. Checked all systems and carburetor heat but could not restore power. ATC had advised to stop mode C altitude indication earlier. We headed east toward mcchord AFB, but were advised a few moments later olm was closer and took radar vectors there. Passed cloud layer and made visibility approach and precautionary landing. Emergency was not declared as we were VFR and had some engine power left. We did however lose altitude and airspeed, but ATC could not tell as our mode C was inoperative. The problem here was teaching a person in his own aircraft which was not properly maintained and created a dangerous situation for IFR flight. How can a cfii tell if a privately owned aircraft is safe for IFR flight?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA EXPERIENCES PARTIAL ENGINE FAILURE DURING INS TRAINING FLT AND MAKES PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING WITH A STUDENT (INS STUDENT) FROM S36 TO TIW-OCM-MNC-TIW. WE WENT VFR S36 DIRECT TO TIW AND PICKED UP IFR CLRNC AT TIW. MODE C WAS INDICATING 800' HIGH (WHICH WE DIDN'T KNOW AT FIRST). WE WERE VFR AT 1400' (MODE C INDICATING 2200') IN AN AREA S OF SEA WHERE FLOOR OR TCA WAS 1600'. PICKED UP IFR CLRNC AT TIW, RADAR VECTOR TO OCM, DIRECT TO OLM VOR FOR VOR 17 APCH AT OLM. 1/2 WAY THERE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE RPM'S. WE HAD A CLOUD LAYER BELOW US BTWN US AND OLM, BUT WERE VFR. CHKED ALL SYSTEMS AND CARB HEAT BUT COULD NOT RESTORE PWR. ATC HAD ADVISED TO STOP MODE C ALT INDICATION EARLIER. WE HEADED E TOWARD MCCHORD AFB, BUT WERE ADVISED A FEW MOMENTS LATER OLM WAS CLOSER AND TOOK RADAR VECTORS THERE. PASSED CLOUD LAYER AND MADE VIS APCH AND PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. EMER WAS NOT DECLARED AS WE WERE VFR AND HAD SOME ENG PWR LEFT. WE DID HOWEVER LOSE ALT AND AIRSPD, BUT ATC COULD NOT TELL AS OUR MODE C WAS INOP. THE PROB HERE WAS TEACHING A PERSON IN HIS OWN ACFT WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IFR FLT. HOW CAN A CFII TELL IF A PRIVATELY OWNED ACFT IS SAFE FOR IFR FLT?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Small aircraft experiences partial engine failure during INS training flight and makes precautionary landing.