Altitude deviation altitude excursion after power loss occurs on small aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	297988
Time
Date	199503
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pgs
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11400 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	297988
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I experienced total loss of power and pressurization resulting in an altitude loss of approximately 600 ft. The loss of power was apparently a fuel starvation problem on the right tank, I switched to the opposite tank and hit high boost which restored power. By this time center was calling, inquiring as to the deviation. I stated that I had experienced a power loss, but power was now normal. Center said I could have lower if I wanted, but to request lower. I did and upon descent reached VFR conditions and canceled IFR, proceeding approximately 70 mi to my destination. As of this writing I have been unable to determine if the problem was a gauge error, as the tank read 1/2 or if a blockage problem exists.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION AFTER PWR LOSS OCCURS ON SMA.

Narrative: I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF PWR AND PRESSURIZATION RESULTING IN AN ALT LOSS OF APPROX 600 FT. THE LOSS OF PWR WAS APPARENTLY A FUEL STARVATION PROB ON THE R TANK, I SWITCHED TO THE OPPOSITE TANK AND HIT HIGH BOOST WHICH RESTORED PWR. BY THIS TIME CTR WAS CALLING, INQUIRING AS TO THE DEV. I STATED THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED A PWR LOSS, BUT PWR WAS NOW NORMAL. CTR SAID I COULD HAVE LOWER IF I WANTED, BUT TO REQUEST LOWER. I DID AND UPON DSCNT REACHED VFR CONDITIONS AND CANCELED IFR, PROCEEDING APPROX 70 MI TO MY DEST. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE PROB WAS A GAUGE ERROR, AS THE TANK READ 1/2 OR IF A BLOCKAGE PROB EXISTS.

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.