Viking
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11; Flight Crew Total 1325; Flight Crew Type 1115
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft
While I was at 5;500 ft. in cruise I heard a loud bang and the engine started to run rough. I immediately turned off the autopilot and contacted Approach and told them I had engine problems and I needed [priority handling]. They informed me that I had one [airport] to the south 3 miles; one to the north 5 miles and one to the east at 15 miles.I immediately turned to the south and proceeded to configure the plane for best glide and pulled the throttle back to idle.I set up a base leg to [the] runway with gear and flaps up. Once I was on final I dropped the gear and lowered flaps to half. I was a little high on short final and applied full flaps. I touched down right on the numbers and was able to taxi to parking.We immediately called FSS and told them we were safe on the ground and to please relay that to Approach.When the fire department arrived I informed them that everything was okay and it was just a broken muffler that caused the landing.
Bellanca Viking pilot reported that a rough running engine resulted in a precautionary landing.