Motor glider pilot opts to land on dirt road short of airport when engine performance rapidly deteri...

Attributes
ACN	790059
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	790059
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flight to ZZZ was normal. Refueled with autogas (engine manufacturer recommended fuel). Departed ZZZ at approximately XB40 to destination ZZZ1. Takeoff was normal. After approximately 10 mins; the aircraft was not climbing normally and slowing just to maintain altitude with high engine RPM. It was obvious that I had better return to ZZZ. After a 180 degree turn and approximately 5 mi; I realized that it was questionable if I could get back to the airport. There was a deserted north south dirt road available and no power lines; so I determined the safest thing for me to do was to make a precautionary landing on that road.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MOTOR GLIDER PLT OPTS TO LAND ON DIRT ROAD SHORT OF ARPT WHEN ENGINE PERFORMANCE RAPIDLY DETERIORATES.

Narrative: FLT TO ZZZ WAS NORMAL. REFUELED WITH AUTOGAS (ENG MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED FUEL). DEPARTED ZZZ AT APPROX XB40 TO DEST ZZZ1. TKOF WAS NORMAL. AFTER APPROX 10 MINS; THE ACFT WAS NOT CLBING NORMALLY AND SLOWING JUST TO MAINTAIN ALT WITH HIGH ENG RPM. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I HAD BETTER RETURN TO ZZZ. AFTER A 180 DEG TURN AND APPROX 5 MI; I REALIZED THAT IT WAS QUESTIONABLE IF I COULD GET BACK TO THE ARPT. THERE WAS A DESERTED NORTH SOUTH DIRT ROAD AVAILABLE AND NO PWR LINES; SO I DETERMINED THE SAFEST THING FOR ME TO DO WAS TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG ON THAT ROAD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

Motor glider pilot opts to land on dirt road short of airport when engine performance rapidly deteriorates.