What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 9/3/03M N15367 took off from ono direct to 26U. Just south of owyee reservoir engine vibration was felt and manipulation of controls (I.e., mag switch, fuel selector, mixture control, carb heat) caused no improvement in engine performance and RPM was slowly dropping. A decision was made to return to ono. Just north of owyee reservoir power still dropped to approx 2300 RPM with a steady loss of altitude. It was then decided to take an alternate airport to land and S66 was selected as being the closest. When the power was reduced the engine sputtered and back fired and a hard landing was made on rwy 31. M or d will be submitted if after engine tear-down problem is found.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 9/3/03M N15367 TOOK OFF FROM ONO DIRECT TO 26U. JUST SOUTH OF OWYEE RESERVOIR ENGINE VIBRATION WAS FELT AND MANIPULATION OF CONTROLS (I.E., MAG SWITCH, FUEL SELECTOR, MIXTURE CONTROL, CARB HEAT) CAUSED NO IMPROVEMENT IN ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND RPM WAS SLOWLY DROPPING. A DECISION WAS MADE TO RETURN TO ONO. JUST NORTH OF OWYEE RESERVOIR POWER STILL DROPPED TO APPROX 2300 RPM WITH A STEADY LOSS OF ALTITUDE. IT WAS THEN DECIDED TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT TO LAND AND S66 WAS SELECTED AS BEING THE CLOSEST. WHEN THE POWER WAS REDUCED THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND BACK FIRED AND A HARD LANDING WAS MADE ON RWY 31. M OR D WILL BE SUBMITTED IF AFTER ENGINE TEAR-DOWN PROBLEM IS FOUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.