MD80 flight crew has low oil quantity indication on the left engine; declares an emergency; diverts ...

Attributes
ACN	697757
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	697757
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eng oil qty other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Cruising at FL320 after passing ZZZ3; I noticed the engine oil quantity on the left engine was at 8 quarts. Watching it carefully; the quantity decreased to 6 quarts in 10 mins. At that time I elected to divert to ZZZ4. During descent to ZZZ4 the oil quantity decreased through 4 quarts. I then elected to make a left turn to ZZZ2. The QRH was accomplished for quantity decreasing. The in-flight engine shutdown checklist was out and ready. The quantity bottomed at zero just before turning final ZZZ2. The pressure never wavered and none of the pressure lights ever illuminated. We landed at about 142000 pounds; had crash fire rescue equipment check the engine and taxied to the gate. 1 quart of oil was found in the tank by maintenance. An apparent oil leak was discovered in the tail pipe. Emergency was declared but emergency authority/authorized was not exercised. Since the engine was still running; I elected to allow the first officer to make the landing which was excellent. After clearing the runway; the left engine was shut down. Taxi to gate with 1 crash fire rescue equipment truck uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW HAS LOW OIL QUANTITY INDICATION ON THE L ENG; DECLARES AN EMER; DIVERTS AND LANDS.

Narrative: CRUISING AT FL320 AFTER PASSING ZZZ3; I NOTICED THE ENG OIL QUANTITY ON THE L ENG WAS AT 8 QUARTS. WATCHING IT CAREFULLY; THE QUANTITY DECREASED TO 6 QUARTS IN 10 MINS. AT THAT TIME I ELECTED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ4. DURING DSCNT TO ZZZ4 THE OIL QUANTITY DECREASED THROUGH 4 QUARTS. I THEN ELECTED TO MAKE A L TURN TO ZZZ2. THE QRH WAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR QUANTITY DECREASING. THE INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN CHKLIST WAS OUT AND READY. THE QUANTITY BOTTOMED AT ZERO JUST BEFORE TURNING FINAL ZZZ2. THE PRESSURE NEVER WAVERED AND NONE OF THE PRESSURE LIGHTS EVER ILLUMINATED. WE LANDED AT ABOUT 142000 LBS; HAD CFR CHK THE ENG AND TAXIED TO THE GATE. 1 QUART OF OIL WAS FOUND IN THE TANK BY MAINT. AN APPARENT OIL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE TAIL PIPE. EMER WAS DECLARED BUT EMER AUTH WAS NOT EXERCISED. SINCE THE ENG WAS STILL RUNNING; I ELECTED TO ALLOW THE FO TO MAKE THE LNDG WHICH WAS EXCELLENT. AFTER CLRING THE RWY; THE L ENG WAS SHUT DOWN. TAXI TO GATE WITH 1 CFR TRUCK UNEVENTFUL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

MD80 flight crew has low oil quantity indication on the left engine; declares an emergency; diverts and lands.