Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20.3; Flight Crew Total 656.3; Flight Crew Type 536.3
Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
While in cruise flight at 9;000 FT. MSL Manifold pressure dropped. I made adjustments to mixture and power settings which temporally restored power; but not to full power. A few minutes went by; and I looked at the EGT gauge and noticed that the Number 1 cylinder dropped off and all of the sudden the engine and plane started vibrating; as if the cylinder blew. At that point I communicated with Center the nature of my problem and they asked if I wanted to declare an emergency; and I replied 'roger; I am declaring an emergency.' I was given clearance to descend at pilot's discretion and received vectors to a nearby airport. As I started my descent; the plane was regaining power and the vibration stopped. I was advised by Center that there were closer air fields; however I had no weather information as to ceiling heights or conditions on the ground; so I chose to continue to the divert airport as the plane seemed to regain its power. I was told to maintain 2;000 FT and as I arrived at the airport environment I was told that I could change to the Tower frequency. I broke out of the cloud deck at 1;100 FT MSL and was parallel to Runway XX in which I continued downwind and turned left base for a short final to Runway XX. I was able to make a normal landing and taxi to the FBO for repairs. Fuel remaining upon landing was 3.5 hours.
A C182 lost power at 9;000 FT in cruise; then began running rough so the pilot declared an emergency when Number 1 EGT was seen low and diverted to a nearby airport. The engine seemed to recover somewhat during descent.