A PA34 in climb declared an emergency and diverted due to the left engine failure caused by a defect...

Attributes
ACN	382051
Time
Date	199710
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-34-220T Turbo Seneca III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 375
ASRS Report	382051
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During climb check, oil pressure decrease noted. Oil temperature was also higher than normal. 'Oil pressure' amber light came on and I decided that was enough. An emergency declaration was made and I returned to vgt with reduced power. No limitations exceeded. After uneventful return and shutdown, I checked the oil. The engine had lost about 1 1/2 quarts of oil in 0.2 hours flight time. Maintenance reported blown cylinder in left engine. Back pressure caused oil to exit oil breather line. Very frustrating -- I had talked to the company 3 times that day expressing concern about the left engine. The pilot that flew it in the afternoon told the dispatcher that it was in the green (oil pressure). I thought it was interesting that they believed him and I took the bait.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA34 IN CLB DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO THE L ENG FAILURE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CYLINDER.

Narrative: DURING CLB CHK, OIL PRESSURE DECREASE NOTED. OIL TEMP WAS ALSO HIGHER THAN NORMAL. 'OIL PRESSURE' AMBER LIGHT CAME ON AND I DECIDED THAT WAS ENOUGH. AN EMER DECLARATION WAS MADE AND I RETURNED TO VGT WITH REDUCED PWR. NO LIMITATIONS EXCEEDED. AFTER UNEVENTFUL RETURN AND SHUTDOWN, I CHKED THE OIL. THE ENG HAD LOST ABOUT 1 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL IN 0.2 HRS FLT TIME. MAINT RPTED BLOWN CYLINDER IN L ENG. BACK PRESSURE CAUSED OIL TO EXIT OIL BREATHER LINE. VERY FRUSTRATING -- I HAD TALKED TO THE COMPANY 3 TIMES THAT DAY EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE L ENG. THE PLT THAT FLEW IT IN THE AFTERNOON TOLD THE DISPATCHER THAT IT WAS IN THE GREEN (OIL PRESSURE). I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THEY BELIEVED HIM AND I TOOK THE BAIT.

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.

A PA34 in climb declared an emergency and diverted due to the left engine failure caused by a defective cylinder.