kabz emergency
Well, declared my first emergency on my first solo ifr flight.
Did Houston to Beaumont (about 80 miles East), shot a couple of approaches, then was climbing out of 4000 feet about 4 miles SW of the airport, there was an almighty BANG, and severe vibration.
"Oh no, I don't believe it!!!! Why is this happening?"
Oil pressure and temp ok, no alternator light, no fire.
I declared an emergency, and Beaumont gave me a turn back to the airport. I messed with everything, but it would only run properly at 1500 or so RPM ... so I had a pretty easy powered glide back to the airport.
Arrived at 2000, about 2 miles out from runway 12, so cut to idle and did the best slip I could and stuck it smack in the TZ, and had enough power at 1500 rpm or so to taxi in.
The a/c owner flew in and picked me up, looked at the a/c, pronounced a bent valve and flew me home.
Nice to have got through that one, and nice to be on the ground safely. Pretty glad it wasn't at night, and kinda sobering to think I'd flown over a bunch of water, in total IMC at 3000 feet. (AXH to VUH, V70 SBI).