<< >> NASA ASRS Report 548177, May 2002

Return land and emergency traffic status questioned by tower supervisor when emergency declared by pilot in a C172 with the oil temperature indicator pegged on departure from fpr, fl.

Attributes
ACN	548177
Time
Date	200205
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fpr.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fpr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : fpr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	548177
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil temp ind other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During climb out, I noticed that the oil temperature gauge remained pegged. Strange, since this is florida in summer. Called tower to return to field. Told to report 2 mi right base. I had a young passenger and did not want to take any chances. Due to traffic, tower then vectored me away from airport. I refused and declared an emergency. I was cleared to land and after landing, asked to call the tower supervisor. She was unhappy that her tower person had to redirct 5 or 6 planes for me. To her I say 'too bad!' fortunately, the problem was a faulty gauge and not an oil problem, but I did not know that until I was on the ground and the aircraft custodian checked things out for me. She didn't think a faulty gauge warranted more than a precautionary landing. I see her point (I could have mentioned the problem at my first call) but all in all, I would do the same thing again -- except sooner!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RETURN LAND AND EMER TFC STATUS QUESTIONED BY TWR SUPVR WHEN EMER DECLARED BY PLT IN A C172 WITH THE OIL TEMP INDICATOR PEGGED ON DEP FROM FPR, FL.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, I NOTICED THAT THE OIL TEMP GAUGE REMAINED PEGGED. STRANGE, SINCE THIS IS FLORIDA IN SUMMER. CALLED TWR TO RETURN TO FIELD. TOLD TO RPT 2 MI R BASE. I HAD A YOUNG PAX AND DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. DUE TO TFC, TWR THEN VECTORED ME AWAY FROM ARPT. I REFUSED AND DECLARED AN EMER. I WAS CLRED TO LAND AND AFTER LNDG, ASKED TO CALL THE TWR SUPVR. SHE WAS UNHAPPY THAT HER TWR PERSON HAD TO REDIRCT 5 OR 6 PLANES FOR ME. TO HER I SAY 'TOO BAD!' FORTUNATELY, THE PROB WAS A FAULTY GAUGE AND NOT AN OIL PROB, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT UNTIL I WAS ON THE GND AND THE ACFT CUSTODIAN CHKED THINGS OUT FOR ME. SHE DIDN'T THINK A FAULTY GAUGE WARRANTED MORE THAN A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. I SEE HER POINT (I COULD HAVE MENTIONED THE PROB AT MY FIRST CALL) BUT ALL IN ALL, I WOULD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN -- EXCEPT SOONER!

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.