PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 197; Flight Crew Type 119
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
Flying a touch-and-go in VMC after flying ~ 1.3 hrs (from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 then ZZZ). About 0.25-0.5 miles from TO (takeoff) end of runway at ~ 300 ft.; aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power and then power surged back. Aircraft remained to feel underpowered and unable to climb. I got priority handling with ZZZ Tower at that time.I was able to enter a low altitude downwind and make short-final for Runway XX with no further incident. On final touch and go at ZZZ2 (directly before the incident at ZZZ) it seemed in retrospect like the aircraft didn't develop full power as expected. This was minor and could also have been an unrelated factor.Potential contributors:1) Prior to departing ZZZ1; I noticed some corrosion on left tip tank fuel sump. There was a few small drops of water in the tip tank. The fuel selector had been left on that tank while sitting on the ground for the previous 2 weeks. The tank was not used in flight. 2) I had used nearly all of the right tip tank in my approach to ZZZ (burned all but last 1-2 gallons); flipped to Main Left tank prior to touch and go. It's possible that that switch was too late and injected a bubble that worked it way through after applying full throttle? 3) [Human Factors] Busy day of touch and goes with MVMC ceilings and BR (mist) in the area.
Pilot reported water in the fuel as a possible reason for power loss on a touch and go; resulting in an Air Turn Back and a precautionary emergency landing.