Pilot of an small aircraft sel divert landed after observing lower than normal oil pressure indicati...

Attributes
ACN	335843
Time
Date	199605
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 5b6 airport : ewb
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1220 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	335843
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In 1100 hours in this airplane, the oil pressure needle in cruise, with oil warm, 'covered up the 5' of the 50 pound indicator. After climb out from falmouth, 5b6, I leveled off at 2500 ft. I then looked at the oil pressure and could 'see the 5.' I looked at it for a few mins from all angles, pinched myself, noticed it was in the green arc, but definitely lower. I decided to make a precautionary landing in new bedford, and I contacted providence approach on 133.85 for help with this unplanned landing. After 3 unanswered calls they finally answered, requesting that I stand by. Since I figured that the oil pressure could continue to decline at any min, I declared an emergency. The landing was uneventful. On the ground, a full power run-up showed, once again, completely normal oil pressure. But I took the night watchman's offer of a ride to the hotel. The next morning, the mechanic and I cut open the oil filter -- it was clean. After several run-ups with no more anomalies, and in daylight, I continued the flight without incident. I told my boss, who would have to stand in for me at my morning meeting, that I ran a higher priced airline than air carrier X's. She understood. Note: mechanic's opinion is that the incident was caused by a piece of crud interfering with the oil pressure relief valve.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL DIVERT LANDED AFTER OBSERVING LOWER THAN NORMAL OIL PRESSURE INDICATION.

Narrative: IN 1100 HRS IN THIS AIRPLANE, THE OIL PRESSURE NEEDLE IN CRUISE, WITH OIL WARM, 'COVERED UP THE 5' OF THE 50 LB INDICATOR. AFTER CLBOUT FROM FALMOUTH, 5B6, I LEVELED OFF AT 2500 FT. I THEN LOOKED AT THE OIL PRESSURE AND COULD 'SEE THE 5.' I LOOKED AT IT FOR A FEW MINS FROM ALL ANGLES, PINCHED MYSELF, NOTICED IT WAS IN THE GREEN ARC, BUT DEFINITELY LOWER. I DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG IN NEW BEDFORD, AND I CONTACTED PROVIDENCE APCH ON 133.85 FOR HELP WITH THIS UNPLANNED LNDG. AFTER 3 UNANSWERED CALLS THEY FINALLY ANSWERED, REQUESTING THAT I STAND BY. SINCE I FIGURED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE COULD CONTINUE TO DECLINE AT ANY MIN, I DECLARED AN EMER. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. ON THE GND, A FULL PWR RUN-UP SHOWED, ONCE AGAIN, COMPLETELY NORMAL OIL PRESSURE. BUT I TOOK THE NIGHT WATCHMAN'S OFFER OF A RIDE TO THE HOTEL. THE NEXT MORNING, THE MECH AND I CUT OPEN THE OIL FILTER -- IT WAS CLEAN. AFTER SEVERAL RUN-UPS WITH NO MORE ANOMALIES, AND IN DAYLIGHT, I CONTINUED THE FLT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TOLD MY BOSS, WHO WOULD HAVE TO STAND IN FOR ME AT MY MORNING MEETING, THAT I RAN A HIGHER PRICED AIRLINE THAN ACR X'S. SHE UNDERSTOOD. NOTE: MECH'S OPINION IS THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A PIECE OF CRUD INTERFERING WITH THE OIL PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE.

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.

Pilot of an small aircraft sel divert landed after observing lower than normal oil pressure indication.