PA32 pilot has malfunctioning engine with loss of power and elects to divert to lbe.

Attributes
ACN	583185
Time
Date	200305
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lbe.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc tower : lbe.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 325 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	583185
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising at 6000 ft under an IFR flight plan from 39N to isz in ohio, engine lost almost all power and began running rough. Immediately diverted toward lbe and contacted ZOB for redirect. Cleveland cleared me to lbe and then to tower, which allowed for a direct approach and landing at lbe. Might have descended more than 200 ft during initial emergency checklist before contacting ZOB for redirect. On ground, it was determined that the intake valve on #4 cylinder had broken and been ingested.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 PLT HAS MALFUNCTIONING ENG WITH LOSS OF PWR AND ELECTS TO DIVERT TO LBE.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT 6000 FT UNDER AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM 39N TO ISZ IN OHIO, ENG LOST ALMOST ALL PWR AND BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. IMMEDIATELY DIVERTED TOWARD LBE AND CONTACTED ZOB FOR REDIRECT. CLEVELAND CLRED ME TO LBE AND THEN TO TWR, WHICH ALLOWED FOR A DIRECT APCH AND LNDG AT LBE. MIGHT HAVE DSNDED MORE THAN 200 FT DURING INITIAL EMER CHKLIST BEFORE CONTACTING ZOB FOR REDIRECT. ON GND, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE ON #4 CYLINDER HAD BROKEN AND BEEN INGESTED.

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.