Reporter's engine freezes up, he declares an emergency, and glides to a safe landing.

Attributes
ACN	297686
Time
Date	199502
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mlb
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 79 flight time type : 29
ASRS Report	297686
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I feel that I made a good decision in coming back to melbourne airport, even though I was 6-7 mi away. I knew I had enough altitude and a 25 KT tailwind. Also, the propeller not windmilling decreased drag. No other factors affected my performance. It was later found that the oil line connected to the hobbs had ruptured. The reason I didn't get bad gauge readings in the beginning is the engine can actually run with 1-2 quarts of oil even though it recommends 6-8 quarts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR'S ENG FREEZES UP, HE DECLARES AN EMER, AND GLIDES TO A SAFE LNDG.

Narrative: I FEEL THAT I MADE A GOOD DECISION IN COMING BACK TO MELBOURNE ARPT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS 6-7 MI AWAY. I KNEW I HAD ENOUGH ALT AND A 25 KT TAILWIND. ALSO, THE PROP NOT WINDMILLING DECREASED DRAG. NO OTHER FACTORS AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE. IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT THE OIL LINE CONNECTED TO THE HOBBS HAD RUPTURED. THE REASON I DIDN'T GET BAD GAUGE READINGS IN THE BEGINNING IS THE ENG CAN ACTUALLY RUN WITH 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL EVEN THOUGH IT RECOMMENDS 6-8 QUARTS.

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.