Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 56; Flight Crew Type 45
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Initial cross-country solo. Conducted thorough preflight; including inspection of fuel tanks; fuel sump; and oil levels. No issues observed. Conducted full-power lean and run-up before takeoff- normal magneto drop and carb heat drop. Departed and headed straight to the transition. Frequency change approved approximately 3 miles out; contacted approach and received squawk code. At approximately 3800-4000 msl; engine began running very rough and experienced loss of approx. 200 rpm. Heavy vibrations from engine; visible shaking from cowling; and very loud popping sounds from engine.Immediately changed course back contacted tower; informing them of current situation.  Tower cleared me for left base for Runway XX. Intermittent roughness and occasional temporary rpm drops of up to 50 rpm continued until shutdown; especially at high power settings. Taxi back to parking under own power- informed tower further assistance was not required. Preformed standard shut down; experienced a slight burning odor from the engine.
C172 student pilot experienced a partial power loss while climbing out. They returned to the departure airport and landed without incident.