GA small aircraft had a cylinder failure while practicing VOR approachs.

Attributes
ACN	161137
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gon
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : gon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 292
ASRS Report	161137
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 115 flight time total : 660
ASRS Report	161054
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On practice VOR runway 23 approach. Engine lost power with loud noise and vibration. Engine INS normal, fuel ok, boost pump on. Owing to position over airport and altitude, only safe course was to land on closed runway (least turn required). Declared emergency. Was cleared to land 'any runway.' made safe landing. No injuries or damage to aircraft or property. No ELT activity. Had sufficient power to taxi. Was cleared to FBO aviation. Noise and vibration still evident. Called mechanic by phone. He was flown in. Examined engine and found nuts holding rocker arm in place had come loose on 1 cylinder and fallen off, causing valve to be inoperative. Rocker arm and push rod were floating loose, probably causing noise and vibration.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA HAD A CYLINDER FAILURE WHILE PRACTICING VOR APCHS.

Narrative: ON PRACTICE VOR RWY 23 APCH. ENG LOST PWR WITH LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION. ENG INS NORMAL, FUEL OK, BOOST PUMP ON. OWING TO POS OVER ARPT AND ALT, ONLY SAFE COURSE WAS TO LAND ON CLOSED RWY (LEAST TURN REQUIRED). DECLARED EMER. WAS CLRED TO LAND 'ANY RWY.' MADE SAFE LNDG. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO ACFT OR PROPERTY. NO ELT ACTIVITY. HAD SUFFICIENT PWR TO TAXI. WAS CLRED TO FBO AVIATION. NOISE AND VIBRATION STILL EVIDENT. CALLED MECH BY PHONE. HE WAS FLOWN IN. EXAMINED ENG AND FOUND NUTS HOLDING ROCKER ARM IN PLACE HAD COME LOOSE ON 1 CYLINDER AND FALLEN OFF, CAUSING VALVE TO BE INOP. ROCKER ARM AND PUSH ROD WERE FLOATING LOOSE, PROBABLY CAUSING NOISE AND VIBRATION.

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.