A cessna 172 in cruise at 4000 ft declared an emergency due to visible oil leak caused by the crankshaft forward seal failure.

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Attributes
ACN	437315
Time
Date	199905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btl.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : azo.tracon tower : sba.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	437315
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil quantity indicator other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

When my student leveled off at 4000 ft MSL, he completed the cruise checklist. I then noticed a film of oil moving up the windshield. I instantly called approach and told them we had an oil leak, we are canceling our IFR, and need to go direct to battle creek. Oil covered the aircraft and we were only able to see out the side windows after they were opened. I had my student looking out the window directing me to the runway. After landing, we taxied clear and shut down. Crash and rescue trucks followed us down the runway and inspected for threat of fire. Aircraft went to maintenance and the mechanic said the forward crankshaft seal failed which caused the oil leak.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 172 IN CRUISE AT 4000 FT DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO VISIBLE OIL LEAK CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT FORWARD SEAL FAILURE.

Narrative: WHEN MY STUDENT LEVELED OFF AT 4000 FT MSL, HE COMPLETED THE CRUISE CHKLIST. I THEN NOTICED A FILM OF OIL MOVING UP THE WINDSHIELD. I INSTANTLY CALLED APCH AND TOLD THEM WE HAD AN OIL LEAK, WE ARE CANCELING OUR IFR, AND NEED TO GO DIRECT TO BATTLE CREEK. OIL COVERED THE ACFT AND WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SEE OUT THE SIDE WINDOWS AFTER THEY WERE OPENED. I HAD MY STUDENT LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW DIRECTING ME TO THE RWY. AFTER LNDG, WE TAXIED CLR AND SHUT DOWN. CRASH AND RESCUE TRUCKS FOLLOWED US DOWN THE RWY AND INSPECTED FOR THREAT OF FIRE. ACFT WENT TO MAINT AND THE MECH SAID THE FORWARD CRANKSHAFT SEAL FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK.

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.