Atx cargo flight experiences engine problems, executed precautionary landing at kci.

Attributes
ACN	132276
Time
Date	198912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : prb airport : kic
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	132276
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was 8500' and approximately 10 NM northwest of paso robles VOR when I noticed excessive oil temperature on the left engine. Further investigation showed low oil pressure (still in green range, but close to yellow) and a cylinder head temperature of 420 degrees which is a company limit, but still in the operating range. I advised ZOA that I might have a problem with 1 engine. He (controller) advised me to keep him advised. I began a descent in an attempt to cool the engine, which did not help as compared with the right engine. I then tried to cool by increasing mixture. The egt was 1450 degrees, which was normal. There was not much change in oil temperature. I reduced the throttle 3' on the left engine, which did begin a temperature reduction of the oil. I advised ZOA that I had a problem with my left engine and would like to stay with center until 3000'. I stage cooled both engines during descent to king city and circled overhead for left traffic on runway 29. I landed uneventfully and advised ZOA I was safe. I called sac FSS to advise salinas FSS where I was, and that I was safe. In all the time I had, I failed to remember if I had declared an emergency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX CARGO FLT EXPERIENCES ENGINE PROBLEMS, EXECUTED PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT KCI.

Narrative: I WAS 8500' AND APPROX 10 NM NW OF PASO ROBLES VOR WHEN I NOTICED EXCESSIVE OIL TEMP ON THE LEFT ENG. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED LOW OIL PRESSURE (STILL IN GREEN RANGE, BUT CLOSE TO YELLOW) AND A CYLINDER HEAD TEMP OF 420 DEGS WHICH IS A COMPANY LIMIT, BUT STILL IN THE OPERATING RANGE. I ADVISED ZOA THAT I MIGHT HAVE A PROB WITH 1 ENG. HE (CTLR) ADVISED ME TO KEEP HIM ADVISED. I BEGAN A DSCNT IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL THE ENG, WHICH DID NOT HELP AS COMPARED WITH THE RIGHT ENG. I THEN TRIED TO COOL BY INCREASING MIXTURE. THE EGT WAS 1450 DEGS, WHICH WAS NORMAL. THERE WAS NOT MUCH CHANGE IN OIL TEMP. I REDUCED THE THROTTLE 3' ON THE LEFT ENG, WHICH DID BEGIN A TEMP REDUCTION OF THE OIL. I ADVISED ZOA THAT I HAD A PROB WITH MY LEFT ENG AND WOULD LIKE TO STAY WITH CENTER UNTIL 3000'. I STAGE COOLED BOTH ENGS DURING DSCNT TO KING CITY AND CIRCLED OVERHEAD FOR LEFT TFC ON RWY 29. I LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND ADVISED ZOA I WAS SAFE. I CALLED SAC FSS TO ADVISE SALINAS FSS WHERE I WAS, AND THAT I WAS SAFE. IN ALL THE TIME I HAD, I FAILED TO REMEMBER IF I HAD DECLARED AN EMER.

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.