PA32 suffered partial loss of engine oil. Cancelled IFR and landed at nearest suitable airport.

Attributes
ACN	578079
Time
Date	200304
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	578079
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	maintenance : technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence other other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil on windshield other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Possible loss of crank shaft seal or propeller seal -- smoke in cabin -- oil on windshield -- notified center of smoke and possible fire -- cancelled IFR -- started immediate descent to land. Engine lost 4 quarts of oil in 3 mins. Engine to be checked by maintenance before next flight to determine cause of problem. Did not declare emergency, because winona airport directly under us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 SUFFERED PARTIAL LOSS OF ENG OIL. CANCELLED IFR AND LANDED AT NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: POSSIBLE LOSS OF CRANK SHAFT SEAL OR PROP SEAL -- SMOKE IN CABIN -- OIL ON WINDSHIELD -- NOTIFIED CTR OF SMOKE AND POSSIBLE FIRE -- CANCELLED IFR -- STARTED IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO LAND. ENG LOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL IN 3 MINS. ENG TO BE CHKED BY MAINT BEFORE NEXT FLT TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROB. DID NOT DECLARE EMER, BECAUSE WINONA ARPT DIRECTLY UNDER US.

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.