popping Piper

[Airfoilsguy]

I was sitting in the park watching my girlfriend's kid play when what looked like a Piper flew over at just tree top level making very little engine noise but it was making popping sounds, sort of like back firing. I waited for the crashing noise but it never happened. Is this normal for planes? If my car made that noise I would take it straight to the shop.

[screaming_emu]

Sometimes if you yank the power to idle quickly while at a high speed, the engine will backfire because the wind is still spinning the prop at a very high speed...or maybe it was just a partial engine failure and they were able to limp back to wherever they were going.

[ASpilot2be]

I hear that sound every once and a while when the many Pipers fly over every day.

[bob12312357]

Our fleet has got an Archer and an Arrow and I've yet to hear them making any loud backfiring noises and would probably need to change my pants if I did.