My 1st passanger flight was with my mum. She'd never been in a light aircraft before and is a little scared of flying ne way.
Took off and it wasnt climbing very well. I thought it was just this aircraft as all have their own characteristics. Anyway, i eventually got to the 1400ft where i tried to level out but it just wasnt happening within the power setting limits.
So i thought its just me, and i should sort my self out. So i set a realistic RPM it should cruise at and tried for the attitude but it needed higher RPM (like just under 2500). I've never really felt the engine running rough before but it was more juddery than usual, i didnt take the fuel pump off at all because of it and it wasnt carb icing.
I was about to route over some congested areas and i wasnt happy so i requested to turn back. The app' and tower were very good, they let me come straight back in on 27 (took off on 09) but there wasnt much wind so it wasnt a problem.
My mum didnt lift her head at all. I was trying to get her to look up and have a look around but she wouldnt. I stayed very high on the approach until i was 110% sure it would make it, then realised i was wayyyyyy to high so took full flap out and had a rather steep approach in. Landing was ok though.
Afterwards i talked to a pilot who i know in the area and he's had problems with the aircraft before. Once it was climing out at a very poor rate then the engine coughed and spluttered and pulled them away.
Once on the ground i couldnt stop questionning whether it was just me but in the air i'm was so sure it wasnt, the engineers had a look but nothing was apparent and it was in for its 50hr check in a few hours.
Good experience for me but i was gutted it happened with my mum on board. Not nice for her but she was ok about it.
Spike