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American champion decathlon aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers developed oil leak due to reporter pilot failing to secure oil dipstick.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 393751 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199802 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : cmk |
| State Reference | NY |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90 |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 575 flight time type : 60 |
| ASRS Report | 393751 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was doing aerobatic maneuver (spin). After completion and entering straight level flight I noticed drops of oil on my right window. A small stream of oil was coming from inspection hatch in cowl. I declared emergency with ny approach control and headed straight to white plains which was downwind of my location. I maintained altitude of 5500 ft till over field and circled down to uneventful landing. Entire right side of aircraft was covered with oil. Dipstick was loose in socket. 2 quarts were missing. I went from 6 quarts to 4 quarts. I recall being distracted at preflight by fuel truck and I do not recall tightening oil dipstick. I watched oil temperatures and pressures which were ok. I kept up at high enough altitude until over field to keep options open in case engine failed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AMERICAN CHAMPION DECATHLON ACFT PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS DEVELOPED OIL LEAK DUE TO RPTR PLT FAILING TO SECURE OIL DIPSTICK.
Narrative: I WAS DOING AEROBATIC MANEUVER (SPIN). AFTER COMPLETION AND ENTERING STRAIGHT LEVEL FLT I NOTICED DROPS OF OIL ON MY R WINDOW. A SMALL STREAM OF OIL WAS COMING FROM INSPECTION HATCH IN COWL. I DECLARED EMER WITH NY APCH CTL AND HEADED STRAIGHT TO WHITE PLAINS WHICH WAS DOWNWIND OF MY LOCATION. I MAINTAINED ALT OF 5500 FT TILL OVER FIELD AND CIRCLED DOWN TO UNEVENTFUL LNDG. ENTIRE R SIDE OF ACFT WAS COVERED WITH OIL. DIPSTICK WAS LOOSE IN SOCKET. 2 QUARTS WERE MISSING. I WENT FROM 6 QUARTS TO 4 QUARTS. I RECALL BEING DISTRACTED AT PREFLT BY FUEL TRUCK AND I DO NOT RECALL TIGHTENING OIL DIPSTICK. I WATCHED OIL TEMPS AND PRESSURES WHICH WERE OK. I KEPT UP AT HIGH ENOUGH ALT UNTIL OVER FIELD TO KEEP OPTIONS OPEN IN CASE ENG FAILED.
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.