PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 1500; Flight Crew Type 600
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
Engine did not produce adequate power to climb safely from Runway XXR. I declared an emergency on Tower frequency and was cleared to circle to land on Runway YYL. The cause was mechanical. A contributing factor in the chain of events was the failure of the pilot and other parties to be aware that the expected full power RPM should have been about 2450 on the static full power run-up used to test the engine following the repair. The aircraft was producing about 2150 RPM on a static run-up test prior to the incident.
Following an unspecified 'repair' the pilot of a PA28 attempted a takeoff despite a full power run-up test which resulted in significant RPM underperformance. Once airborne; the aircraft was unable to climb; an emergency was declared and an opposite direction landing on the takeoff runway was successful. The reporter advised he and 'other parties' were unaware of what RPM was expected during the static run-up.