A PA46 turbo failed at 17;500 ft in cruise. The pilot was able to maintain 8;000 ft to his destinati...

Narrative:

At 17;500 ft in clear weather; smooth conditions; I lost turbo boost to my engine and was unable to maintain my cruise altitude. I announced the problem to ATC but did not declare an emergency as all other power indications and temperatures were normal. I proceeded to my destination and was told to descend; but declined as I had announced all along the route; based on partial loss of power; my intention to proceed at the maximum altitude I could sustain; about 8;000 MSL; and then spiral down over the airport to a landing. Controllers told me they had passed along the word. But; the final inbound controller told me to descend and I declined. He told me I might interfere with inbound traffic to a class B international airport but I had been given a class B clearance and was in communication. I declined again. On short final approach to my intended destination; I suddenly lost oil pressure and made a direct descent to the runway without incident. The cause of the partial power loss/oil pressure loss has not yet been determined.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA46 turbo failed at 17;500 FT in cruise. The pilot was able to maintain 8;000 FT to his destination where just prior to descent the aircraft had a partial power and oil pressure loss.

Narrative: At 17;500 FT in clear weather; smooth conditions; I lost turbo boost to my engine and was unable to maintain my cruise altitude. I announced the problem to ATC but did not declare an emergency as all other power indications and temperatures were normal. I proceeded to my destination and was told to descend; but declined as I had announced all along the route; based on partial loss of power; my intention to proceed at the maximum altitude I could sustain; about 8;000 MSL; and then spiral down over the airport to a landing. Controllers told me they had passed along the word. But; the final inbound Controller told me to descend and I declined. He told me I might interfere with inbound traffic to a Class B International Airport but I had been given a Class B clearance and was in communication. I declined again. On short final approach to my intended destination; I suddenly lost oil pressure and made a direct descent to the runway without incident. The cause of the partial power loss/oil pressure loss has not yet been determined.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	920842
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Visual Approach Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Exhaust Turbo Charger
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Total 4800 Flight Crew Type 1100
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

A PA46 turbo failed at 17;500 ft in cruise. The pilot was able to maintain 8;000 ft to his destination where just prior to descent the aircraft had a partial power and oil pressure loss.