PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 126; Flight Crew Total 349; Flight Crew Type 83
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
During initial climb out at 1;400 feet MSL; I know this because I just read the altimeter for fuel pump shut off; the engine suddenly shut off as if you turned the mags off. Than it turned itself back on; however when it restarted it had a bad missing condition to it. I never did turn the fuel pump off. At this point I switched the fuel tanks and then the engine quit again (15-20 seconds of off time) again it turned itself back on but still had a bad miss. This all happened in about 1-2 minutes time. At this point I radioed tower that I was experiencing a power loss and needed to return. They cleared me and asked what runway I wanted. At this point I had already made a 180 turn back to the airport. Upon landing on the last 1/3 of departure end with full flaps I locked up the brakes to try and stop the plane; but the runway was recently resurfaced and earlier in the afternoon a heavy rain came through so the runway was greasy. The plane was not able to stop in this distance and it slid out into the field off the departure end. Took out a REIL on the way. The plane stopped in the field about 500 feet away from the runway. Plane received some minor dents & minor scratches. The next day it was determined that the engine had three cracked spark plugs. Early in the day it was reported that the engine would lose 200 rpm's at certain times. It was tested for this but nothing was found wrong. However upon further testing (after the occurrence) with plugs removed from engine and bench tested that is where the problem showed up. Higher rpms & heavy load condition would cause the plugs to miss. At this time I would like to make a suggestion on REIL's. It would be most helpful if the REIL's were recessed and not sticking up 34 inches or so in the flight path. They are in the way even when practicing short field landings. Other pilots of low wings have said they have hit them during night landings. Just another hazard to deal with.
Piper Warrior pilot reported returning to departure airport after the engine began running rough. The runway was wet and the aircraft slid off the end; striking a REIL.