Aircraft fuel equipment problem creates a diversion to altitude airport and emergency landing.

Attributes
ACN	209061
Time
Date	199204
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nfg
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san tower : mco
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	209061
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

En route from lgb to mvr at 3500 ft, I noticed a drop in RPM to 2200. I applied more power to obtain 2300 however received a further drop. The engine began to sputter and had a lower drop in RPM. Notified san diego approach of engine trouble and was told we were 'abeam oceanside.' did not see oceanside airport, however, I headed for visual runway which was camp pendleton. San diego approach called camp pendleton to advise. Landed at camp pendleton, other private pilot with me who did preflight informed me that small bug was drained from tanks the day before. Airplane was flown out of the military base back to lgb without being inspected by an a and P mechanic. Was also back on line the following morning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT FUEL EQUIP PROBLEM CREATES A DIVERSION TO ALT ARPT AND EMER LNDG.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM LGB TO MVR AT 3500 FT, I NOTICED A DROP IN RPM TO 2200. I APPLIED MORE PWR TO OBTAIN 2300 HOWEVER RECEIVED A FURTHER DROP. THE ENG BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND HAD A LOWER DROP IN RPM. NOTIFIED SAN DIEGO APCH OF ENG TROUBLE AND WAS TOLD WE WERE 'ABEAM OCEANSIDE.' DID NOT SEE OCEANSIDE ARPT, HOWEVER, I HEADED FOR VISUAL RWY WHICH WAS CAMP PENDLETON. SAN DIEGO APCH CALLED CAMP PENDLETON TO ADVISE. LANDED AT CAMP PENDLETON, OTHER PVT PLT WITH ME WHO DID PREFLT INFORMED ME THAT SMALL BUG WAS DRAINED FROM TANKS THE DAY BEFORE. AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN OUT OF THE MIL BASE BACK TO LGB WITHOUT BEING INSPECTED BY AN A AND P MECH. WAS ALSO BACK ON LINE THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

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.