An mu-300 left engine oil pressure decreased then indicated zero so the engine was shut down; the ch...

Attributes
ACN	1116008
Time
Date	201309
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MU-300 Diamond 1/1A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Powerplant Lubrication System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 16000 Flight Crew Type 2200
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 2400 Flight Crew Type 425
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

Normal takeoff and vectored south to the departure. Passing about 5;000 ft the left engine low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The left engine was brought back to idle. The oil press continued to drop and the engine was shut down within 10 seconds of the light coming on. ATC was notified that we needed [an] immediate return to airport. They responded with vectors back toward the active runway 12R ILS. We were descended to 3;000 ft. ATC asked if we needed assistance and we responded not at this time; we had shut an engine down and needed to return for landing. I felt at the time that everything was under control and did not need to declare an emergency. We were given a turn to 360. We responded with 'turn 360.' however the pilot not flying had set in a heading of 130 and we were paralleling the final. I was following the command bars and getting the plane set up for the final. I did not notice the error until ATC asked why was heading in that direction. I immediately turned to 360. By this time we were high and close to the FAF. ATC indicated that they were going to have to take us back around to intercept the inbound. At this point we declared an emergency and ATC gave us one more vector to final and cleared us for approach. The approach and landing were uneventful. In retrospect I should have immediately declared an emergency when we shut down the engine. It would have been helpful to ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MU-300 left engine oil pressure decreased then indicated zero so the engine was shut down; the checklist completed and after a missed vector for an immediate landing; an uneventful landing followed.

Narrative: Normal takeoff and vectored south to the departure. Passing about 5;000 FT the left engine low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The left engine was brought back to idle. The oil press continued to drop and the engine was shut down within 10 seconds of the light coming on. ATC was notified that we needed [an] immediate return to airport. They responded with vectors back toward the active Runway 12R ILS. We were descended to 3;000 FT. ATC asked if we needed assistance and we responded not at this time; we had shut an engine down and needed to return for landing. I felt at the time that everything was under control and did not need to declare an emergency. We were given a turn to 360. We responded with 'turn 360.' However the pilot not flying had set in a heading of 130 and we were paralleling the final. I was following the command bars and getting the plane set up for the final. I did not notice the error until ATC asked why was heading in that direction. I immediately turned to 360. By this time we were high and close to the FAF. ATC indicated that they were going to have to take us back around to intercept the inbound. At this point we declared an emergency and ATC gave us one more vector to final and cleared us for approach. The approach and landing were uneventful. In retrospect I should have immediately declared an emergency when we shut down the engine. It would have been helpful to ATC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An mu-300 left engine oil pressure decreased then indicated zero so the engine was shut down; the checklist completed and after a missed vector for an immediate landing; an uneventful landing followed.