<< >> NASA ASRS Report 176325, April 1991

GA small aircraft developed an engine surge while in cruise at 4000' in snow and rain. On descent to 3000' a manifold pressure increase was noted and the pilot requested priority handling and was vectored to teb.

Attributes
ACN	176325
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : ewr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	176325
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While cruising at 4000' MSL, 25 mi northeast of teterboro airport, a slight fluctuation in manifold pressure and egt were noted. Flight conditions at 4000' were below freezing with moderate rain and snow. While being vectored for the VOR-24 approach at teterboro, clearance was given for a descent to 3000' MSL. Soon after leveling at 3000', a manifold pressure surge of approximately 3' was noted, and was corrected by a reduction in throttle. Due to night IMC flight conditions, I decided that the safest action at this point was to request priority handling from ATC. Ny approach then vectored the flight directly for the VOR approach at teterboro. During execution of the emergency checklist, the fuel selector valve was switched to another tank and the problem did not recur. A normal landing was made at teterboro.

Related reports:

• An aircraft on a visual approach circling to land ase runway...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA DEVELOPED AN ENGINE SURGE WHILE IN CRUISE AT 4000' IN SNOW AND RAIN. ON DESCENT TO 3000' A MANIFOLD PRESSURE INCREASE WAS NOTED AND THE PLT REQUESTED PRIORITY HANDLING AND WAS VECTORED TO TEB.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT 4000' MSL, 25 MI NE OF TETERBORO ARPT, A SLIGHT FLUCTUATION IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND EGT WERE NOTED. FLT CONDITIONS AT 4000' WERE BELOW FREEZING WITH MODERATE RAIN AND SNOW. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE VOR-24 APCH AT TETERBORO, CLRNC WAS GIVEN FOR A DSNT TO 3000' MSL. SOON AFTER LEVELING AT 3000', A MANIFOLD PRESSURE SURGE OF APPROX 3' WAS NOTED, AND WAS CORRECTED BY A REDUCTION IN THROTTLE. DUE TO NIGHT IMC FLT CONDITIONS, I DECIDED THAT THE SAFEST ACTION AT THIS POINT WAS TO REQUEST PRIORITY HANDLING FROM ATC. NY APCH THEN VECTORED THE FLT DIRECTLY FOR THE VOR APCH AT TETERBORO. DURING EXECUTION OF THE EMER CHKLIST, THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TANK AND THE PROB DID NOT RECUR. A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE AT TETERBORO.

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.