Cessna 152
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 252.3; Flight Crew Type 252.3
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Was performing closed traffic patterns at night. After a normal run-up with no abnormal indications; a full traffic pattern was performed to a full stop. We taxied back to the departure end of the runway; and departed for another circuit in the pattern. We had a normal takeoff with no abnormal indications; at full power; and at approximately 500 feet MSL the engine started to lose power and began to sputter; after two seconds of adjusting throttle to remedy a carburetor problem; the engine at full open throttle sounded as if it was at idle and about to quit. With a residential area ahead of the plane; the decision was made to perform a 180 degree turn back to the departure runway for landing. Tower was notified of rough running; sputtering engine that sounded as if it was going to quit; and a return to the runway was going to be performed. But the pilot did not declare an emergency; the Tower declared a level two emergency automatically. The airplane landed on the runway uneventfully and the engine came back with normal power. We were able to taxi under our own power back to our home ramp.
C152 instructor pilot experiences a power loss during climb at 500 FT and is able to return and land opposite direction on the departure runway after notifying the Tower.