What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft made a normal take-off from Aurora airport and leveled out at 4,500 feet. The first indication of trouble was the propeller suddenly increased in speed, to 2,500 RPM. The pilot turned back toward the airport and lined up with runway 15. Approximately 30 seconds later the engine began vibration badly and backfiring, while losing power. Without enough power to make the planned runway, the pilot elected to perform a gear up landing short of the airport. (This is the recommended procedure for this aircraft according to the emergency checklist). The landing was very smooth, the aircraft slid about 300 feet, there were no injuries, and only minor damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL TAKE-OFF FROM AURORA AIRPORT AND LEVELED OUT AT 4,500 FEET. THE FIRST INDICATION OF TROUBLE WAS THE PROPELLER SUDDENLY INCREASED IN SPEED, TO 2,500 RPM. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT AND LINED UP WITH RUNWAY 15. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE BEGAN VIBRATION BADLY AND BACKFIRING, WHILE LOSING POWER. WITHOUT ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE THE PLANNED RUNWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A GEAR UP LANDING SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. (THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE FOR THIS AIRCRAFT ACCORDING TO THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST). THE LANDING WAS VERY SMOOTH, THE AIRCRAFT SLID ABOUT 300 FEET, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, AND ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
Other reports on N2215D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.