VFR AA5 with engine problems declared emergency, diverts and landed at sfz when under pvd control.

Attributes
ACN	616085
Time
Date	200404
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfz.airport
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl single value : 4100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	616085
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

En route from fit to bid, student was attempting to return to cruise altitude of 4500 ft. Full power, climb attitude and airspeed -- aircraft would not climb. Though all cockpit indications normal, engine did not sound right. I took over and still no climb, reduced power to 2400 RPM, and aircraft began excessive descent rate (900 FPM) immediately. I pitched up and applied full power. Was now able to climb aircraft. Went to 4800 ft MSL, contacted pvd approach and advised of rough running engine and my intentions to divert to north central airport (closest). (WX was not an issue -- stable air, no windshears at altitude, smooth ride.) pvd worked with me, and handed me off to sfz's unicom, where I declared emergency. Remained close in and high throughout pattern, with uneventful landing. Unable to duplicate difficulty on the ground -- nor was mechanic next day. Appreciate the professionalism of pvd ATC people, as well as FBO personnel -- a valuable lesson for student, thankfully with positive result.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR AA5 WITH ENG PROBS DECLARED EMER, DIVERTS AND LANDED AT SFZ WHEN UNDER PVD CTL.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM FIT TO BID, STUDENT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO CRUISE ALT OF 4500 FT. FULL PWR, CLB ATTITUDE AND AIRSPD -- ACFT WOULD NOT CLB. THOUGH ALL COCKPIT INDICATIONS NORMAL, ENG DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. I TOOK OVER AND STILL NO CLB, REDUCED PWR TO 2400 RPM, AND ACFT BEGAN EXCESSIVE DSCNT RATE (900 FPM) IMMEDIATELY. I PITCHED UP AND APPLIED FULL PWR. WAS NOW ABLE TO CLB ACFT. WENT TO 4800 FT MSL, CONTACTED PVD APCH AND ADVISED OF ROUGH RUNNING ENG AND MY INTENTIONS TO DIVERT TO N CENTRAL ARPT (CLOSEST). (WX WAS NOT AN ISSUE -- STABLE AIR, NO WINDSHEARS AT ALT, SMOOTH RIDE.) PVD WORKED WITH ME, AND HANDED ME OFF TO SFZ'S UNICOM, WHERE I DECLARED EMER. REMAINED CLOSE IN AND HIGH THROUGHOUT PATTERN, WITH UNEVENTFUL LNDG. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE DIFFICULTY ON THE GND -- NOR WAS MECH NEXT DAY. APPRECIATE THE PROFESSIONALISM OF PVD ATC PEOPLE, AS WELL AS FBO PERSONNEL -- A VALUABLE LESSON FOR STUDENT, THANKFULLY WITH POSITIVE RESULT.

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.