Diversion to altitude airport deemed necessary when PIC notes falling oil level in one engine.

Attributes
ACN	208920
Time
Date	199205
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv tower : lou
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	208920
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

At FL350, I noticed the oil quantity decreasing. We decided to divert into las, destination was sfo. We feel we did everything correctly but with all the questions one is never sure. We got to where we are afraid to declare an emergency. We didn't have to shut the engine down, but it took 20 qts of oil to refill after leak was found.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DIVERSION TO ALT ARPT DEEMED NECESSARY WHEN PIC NOTES FALLING OIL LEVEL IN ONE ENG.

Narrative: AT FL350, I NOTICED THE OIL QUANTITY DECREASING. WE DECIDED TO DIVERT INTO LAS, DEST WAS SFO. WE FEEL WE DID EVERYTHING CORRECTLY BUT WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS ONE IS NEVER SURE. WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE AFRAID TO DECLARE AN EMER. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SHUT THE ENG DOWN, BUT IT TOOK 20 QTS OF OIL TO REFILL AFTER LEAK WAS FOUND.

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.