Pilot of a PA32 on an IFR flight plan loses separation with another aircraft when he is distracted by duties associated with recurring high engine oil temperature warnings.

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Attributes
ACN	814016
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz2.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz2.tracon
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 : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	814016
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan from ZZZ to ZZZ1 approximately 10 mi south of ZZZ2 at an assigned altitude of 5000 ft MSL. At that time; I had 4 separate alarms for 'high oil temperature.' my attention was diverted to manipulating the controls; troubleshooting the problem; monitoring the other engine instruments; preparing for a possible emergency landing; preparing the passenger for a landing and securing the proper charts for a diverted landing at ZZZ2 along with other duties as applicable. During this time; I had reduced power and with my attention being diverted I was informed by ATC to 'maintain 5000 ft.' my altitude had inadvertently dropped to approximately 4700 ft MSL. I immediately made the proper control inputs to establish 5000 ft MSL. I notified ATC of the problem and the need to make a precautionary landing at ZZZ2. The balance of the flight was uneventful and the reason for the high oil temperature is still being analyzed. After landing; I was requested to contact approach by telephone and was informed that during this time separation between our aircraft and a departure was reduced. I thanked the supervisor for their assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PILOT OF A PA32 ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN LOSES SEPARATION WITH ANOTHER ACFT WHEN HE IS DISTRACTED BY DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH RECURRING HIGH ENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE WARNINGS.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM ZZZ TO ZZZ1 APPROX 10 MI S OF ZZZ2 AT AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT MSL. AT THAT TIME; I HAD 4 SEPARATE ALARMS FOR 'HIGH OIL TEMP.' MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED TO MANIPULATING THE CTLS; TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROB; MONITORING THE OTHER ENG INSTS; PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE EMER LNDG; PREPARING THE PAX FOR A LNDG AND SECURING THE PROPER CHARTS FOR A DIVERTED LNDG AT ZZZ2 ALONG WITH OTHER DUTIES AS APPLICABLE. DURING THIS TIME; I HAD REDUCED PWR AND WITH MY ATTN BEING DIVERTED I WAS INFORMED BY ATC TO 'MAINTAIN 5000 FT.' MY ALT HAD INADVERTENTLY DROPPED TO APPROX 4700 FT MSL. I IMMEDIATELY MADE THE PROPER CTL INPUTS TO ESTABLISH 5000 FT MSL. I NOTIFIED ATC OF THE PROB AND THE NEED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT ZZZ2. THE BAL OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THE REASON FOR THE HIGH OIL TEMP IS STILL BEING ANALYZED. AFTER LNDG; I WAS REQUESTED TO CONTACT APCH BY TELEPHONE AND WAS INFORMED THAT DURING THIS TIME SEPARATION BTWN OUR ACFT AND A DEP WAS REDUCED. I THANKED THE SUPVR FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.