PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5.6; Flight Crew Total 110.7; Flight Crew Type 31.7
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
I was receiving flight following services from ATC; and I had recently descended from 10;500 FT to 8;500 FT for traffic. As I was in the vicinity of a large Class C airport; my engine started to run rough. I turned on the fuel pump and switched tanks in an attempt to remedy the situation; but the engine was still running rough. At that point; I advised ATC of the situation and my intent to make a precautionary landing at the nearby Class C airport. This request was approved; and I descended and landed on Runway 26L without incident. On the ramp for the FBO; I did a series of ground checks. I found no issues at that time; and the problem appeared to have cleared itself. Concluding that the aircraft was airworthy; I made an uneventful flight to my planned destination. In hindsight; I believe the issue may have been a fouled spark plug due to my failure to lean the mixture as I made my initial climb to 10;500 FT. The problem appeared to resolve itself during ground checks at the divert airport.
A pilot failed to lean his PA-28-151 engine during climb out and fouled spark plugs may have been the reason for a rough running engine; which resulted in a precautionary diversion.