MD80. FAA aci pointed out a possible oil leak to the captain.

Attributes
ACN	465503
Time
Date	200002
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	465503
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

As I was about to perform my walkaround inspection prior to flight, I was met by an FAA inspector who made a comment about the oil on the bottom side of the #2 engine nacelle. I told him I'd take a look at it. Upon inspection of that area, I did notice some oil. However, in my judgement and experience I did not believe it to be excessive. Upon completion of the walkaround, I spoke with the inspector again who asked what the oil consumption was on the previous flight (about 4 hours). I informed him that it was normal. The inspector then commented, 'you may want to have your people look at that when you get back.' this was referring to our home maintenance base. I said I would. Returning to the aircraft, I checked the maintenance log to see how much and when oil had been added to #2 engine. Nothing abnormal noted. Our company now directs us to write up any item that an FAA inspector mentions in any way and then allow maintenance control to determine the course of action to be taken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80. FAA ACI POINTED OUT A POSSIBLE OIL LEAK TO THE CAPT.

Narrative: AS I WAS ABOUT TO PERFORM MY WALKAROUND INSPECTION PRIOR TO FLT, I WAS MET BY AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE OIL ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE #2 ENG NACELLE. I TOLD HIM I'D TAKE A LOOK AT IT. UPON INSPECTION OF THAT AREA, I DID NOTICE SOME OIL. HOWEVER, IN MY JUDGEMENT AND EXPERIENCE I DID NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE EXCESSIVE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE WALKAROUND, I SPOKE WITH THE INSPECTOR AGAIN WHO ASKED WHAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS ON THE PREVIOUS FLT (ABOUT 4 HRS). I INFORMED HIM THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE INSPECTOR THEN COMMENTED, 'YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE YOUR PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT WHEN YOU GET BACK.' THIS WAS REFERRING TO OUR HOME MAINT BASE. I SAID I WOULD. RETURNING TO THE ACFT, I CHKED THE MAINT LOG TO SEE HOW MUCH AND WHEN OIL HAD BEEN ADDED TO #2 ENG. NOTHING ABNORMAL NOTED. OUR COMPANY NOW DIRECTS US TO WRITE UP ANY ITEM THAT AN FAA INSPECTOR MENTIONS IN ANY WAY AND THEN ALLOW MAINT CTL TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN.

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.