A C150 pilot encountered a loss of engine power, landing short of destination.

Attributes
ACN	523311
Time
Date	200108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gon.airport
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pvd.tower tracon : lszh.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 240 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	523311
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While in cruise at 3500 ft en route from hto (east hampton) to orh (worcester), I noted 2 large loss of power. After troubleshooting everything, I made the decision to turn back to gon (groton). My engine was not producing enough power to hold altitude, and at 3500 ft, I could not glide all the way back to gon. I advised providence approach of my situation and eventually squawked 7700. At an altitude of approximately 1500 ft, I started to manipulate the mixture control. I noticed that by changing the mixture, the engine would give spurts of power, enough to just hold altitude to gon. I made an emergency landing at gon, who was previously advised of my situation, and pulled off the runway. I notified gon tower via a land line and they took my name and phone number.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C150 PLT ENCOUNTERED A LOSS OF ENG PWR, LNDG SHORT OF DEST.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE AT 3500 FT ENRTE FROM HTO (E HAMPTON) TO ORH (WORCESTER), I NOTED 2 LARGE LOSS OF PWR. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING EVERYTHING, I MADE THE DECISION TO TURN BACK TO GON (GROTON). MY ENG WAS NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH PWR TO HOLD ALT, AND AT 3500 FT, I COULD NOT GLIDE ALL THE WAY BACK TO GON. I ADVISED PROVIDENCE APCH OF MY SIT AND EVENTUALLY SQUAWKED 7700. AT AN ALT OF APPROX 1500 FT, I STARTED TO MANIPULATE THE MIXTURE CTL. I NOTICED THAT BY CHANGING THE MIXTURE, THE ENG WOULD GIVE SPURTS OF PWR, ENOUGH TO JUST HOLD ALT TO GON. I MADE AN EMER LNDG AT GON, WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY ADVISED OF MY SIT, AND PULLED OFF THE RWY. I NOTIFIED GON TWR VIA A LAND LINE AND THEY TOOK MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER.

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.