Upon experiencing a high oil temperature reading, an small aircraft pilot begins a rapid descent to facilitate engine cooling.

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Attributes
ACN	134900
Time
Date	199001
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4100 msl bound upper : 4100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : smf
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 1634 flight time type : 1104
ASRS Report	134900
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise at 5500', I noticed the oil temperature had reached red line. The engine had only 15 hours since major overhaul and I was concerned about a possible internal failure. I started an immediate rapid descent to improve cooling and to be prepared to make an emergency landing if necessary. After about 2500' MSL, the oil temperature gauge suddenly dropped to 40 degrees below red line. Throughout the problem, the oil pressure remained at the top of the green, 75 psi. After the oil temperature gauge corrected itself, I continued to my intended destination of auburn and landed. Because I started a rapid descent earlier than intended, I feel I must have penetrated the outer section of the sacramento arsa. I was VFR above the arsa when the problem occurred and did not have time to contact approach control. By the time the problem was resolved I was already out of the arsa. Later investigation of the problem indicated that poor wiring to the oil temperature probe was the cause. The wires had been lengthened during the engine overhaul and not properly crimped.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UPON EXPERIENCING A HIGH OIL TEMPERATURE READING, AN SMA PLT BEGINS A RAPID DESCENT TO FACILITATE ENGINE COOLING.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT 5500', I NOTICED THE OIL TEMP HAD REACHED RED LINE. THE ENG HAD ONLY 15 HRS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE INTERNAL FAILURE. I STARTED AN IMMEDIATE RAPID DSCNT TO IMPROVE COOLING AND TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE AN EMER LNDG IF NECESSARY. AFTER ABOUT 2500' MSL, THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 40 DEGREES BELOW RED LINE. THROUGHOUT THE PROBLEM, THE OIL PRESSURE REMAINED AT THE TOP OF THE GREEN, 75 PSI. AFTER THE OIL TEMP GAUGE CORRECTED ITSELF, I CONTINUED TO MY INTENDED DEST OF AUBURN AND LANDED. BECAUSE I STARTED A RAPID DSCNT EARLIER THAN INTENDED, I FEEL I MUST HAVE PENETRATED THE OUTER SECTION OF THE SACRAMENTO ARSA. I WAS VFR ABOVE THE ARSA WHEN THE PROB OCCURRED AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CONTACT APCH CTL. BY THE TIME THE PROB WAS RESOLVED I WAS ALREADY OUT OF THE ARSA. LATER INVESTIGATION OF THE PROB INDICATED THAT POOR WIRING TO THE OIL TEMP PROBE WAS THE CAUSE. THE WIRES HAD BEEN LENGTHENED DURING THE ENG OVERHAUL AND NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.