<< >> NASA ASRS Report 115863, July 1989

Pilot of light single engine aircraft in IFR flight was engine problem, declares emergency and with ATC assistance makes a precautionary landing.

Attributes
ACN	115863
Time
Date	198907
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mxe airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	115863
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight plan and talking to philadelphia approach, engine 'shuddered'. The oil pressure needle indicated an abnormally low pressure. I declared an emergency to phl approach. ATC suggested phl int'l (12 NM away). I accepted, and he vectored me for the localizer for the ILS 17 approach. My approach plates for phl (which was not my destination) were in my flight bag, so I asked the controller for the frequency, DH, etc. On the localizer, I purposely stayed above the glide slope. The engine was developing very little power, but it never stopped on its own. The landing at phl was uneventful, but the airport emergency crews were waiting. After landing, the plane was towed to a local FBO. The following day, it was determined that #5 cylinder did not hold pressure, and the blow-by probably pressurized the crank case and blew the oil overboard.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LIGHT SINGLE ENGINE ACFT IN IFR FLT WAS ENGINE PROBLEM, DECLARES EMERGENCY AND WITH ATC ASSISTANCE MAKES A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND TALKING TO PHILADELPHIA APCH, ENGINE 'SHUDDERED'. THE OIL PRESSURE NEEDLE INDICATED AN ABNORMALLY LOW PRESSURE. I DECLARED AN EMER TO PHL APCH. ATC SUGGESTED PHL INT'L (12 NM AWAY). I ACCEPTED, AND HE VECTORED ME FOR THE LOC FOR THE ILS 17 APCH. MY APCH PLATES FOR PHL (WHICH WAS NOT MY DEST) WERE IN MY FLT BAG, SO I ASKED THE CTLR FOR THE FREQ, DH, ETC. ON THE LOC, I PURPOSELY STAYED ABOVE THE GLIDE SLOPE. THE ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING VERY LITTLE POWER, BUT IT NEVER STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE LNDG AT PHL WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT THE ARPT EMER CREWS WERE WAITING. AFTER LNDG, THE PLANE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FBO. THE FOLLOWING DAY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT #5 CYLINDER DID NOT HOLD PRESSURE, AND THE BLOW-BY PROBABLY PRESSURIZED THE CRANK CASE AND BLEW THE OIL OVERBOARD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.