Engine oil quantity was discovered to read 0 at the gate just after the completion of a flight.

Attributes
ACN	289498
Time
Date	199411
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : rpmm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	289498
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Upon engine shutdown after flight, we noticed the left engine oil level was 0. External inspection revealed a large oil puddle under the engine. We believe the oil leak, which came from a loosened fitting, started just prior to gate arrival. No other indications were noted. This incident served as a reminder to check fluid levels in flight on a regular basis. The oil level gauges are located under the glare shield, and are difficult to see. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states the aircraft type was an md-80. Fortunately, the leak did not occur until at the gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENG OIL QUANTITY WAS DISCOVERED TO READ 0 AT THE GATE JUST AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A FLT.

Narrative: UPON ENG SHUTDOWN AFTER FLT, WE NOTICED THE L ENG OIL LEVEL WAS 0. EXTERNAL INSPECTION REVEALED A LARGE OIL PUDDLE UNDER THE ENG. WE BELIEVE THE OIL LEAK, WHICH CAME FROM A LOOSENED FITTING, STARTED JUST PRIOR TO GATE ARR. NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. THIS INCIDENT SERVED AS A REMINDER TO CHK FLUID LEVELS IN FLT ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE OIL LEVEL GAUGES ARE LOCATED UNDER THE GLARE SHIELD, AND ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES THE ACFT TYPE WAS AN MD-80. FORTUNATELY, THE LEAK DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AT THE GATE.

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.