Oil pumping out of right engine which is shut down and precautionary landing made.

Attributes
ACN	215177
Time
Date	199207
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 555
ASRS Report	215177
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After a very productive week at flight safety international in long beach, I had departed lgb, IFR for ccr. While IMC just northwest of lax at 7000 ft, I noticed the right engine was covered with oil and it appeared to be pumping out at a very good rate. The engine gauges indicated oil pressure but the quantity left was unknown. As I had simulated so many times the previous week, I shut down the right engine, feathered the propeller and contacted ATC. I chose to declare an emergency under the circumstances and was vectored to runway 30 at smo. During my preflight, I visually inspected the oil filler caps. I don't know if it was defective, but the right on east had worked itself loose and dislodged, causing the loss of oil. During a very extensive preflight with a flight safety instructor earlier in the day before my biennial review flight, he pointed out that the inside of the caps were starting to rust and advised replacing them in the future. Monday morning, I purchased new filler caps and had them installed at FBO in concord.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OIL PUMPING OUT OF R ENG WHICH IS SHUT DOWN AND PRECAUTIONARY LNDG MADE.

Narrative: AFTER A VERY PRODUCTIVE WK AT FLT SAFETY INTL IN LONG BEACH, I HAD DEPARTED LGB, IFR FOR CCR. WHILE IMC JUST NW OF LAX AT 7000 FT, I NOTICED THE R ENG WAS COVERED WITH OIL AND IT APPEARED TO BE PUMPING OUT AT A VERY GOOD RATE. THE ENG GAUGES INDICATED OIL PRESSURE BUT THE QUANTITY L WAS UNKNOWN. AS I HAD SIMULATED SO MANY TIMES THE PREVIOUS WK, I SHUT DOWN THE R ENG, FEATHERED THE PROP AND CONTACTED ATC. I CHOSE TO DECLARE AN EMER UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WAS VECTORED TO RWY 30 AT SMO. DURING MY PREFLT, I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE OIL FILLER CAPS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE R ON E HAD WORKED ITSELF LOOSE AND DISLODGED, CAUSING THE LOSS OF OIL. DURING A VERY EXTENSIVE PREFLT WITH A FLT SAFETY INSTRUCTOR EARLIER IN THE DAY BEFORE MY BIENNIAL REVIEW FLT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE INSIDE OF THE CAPS WERE STARTING TO RUST AND ADVISED REPLACING THEM IN THE FUTURE. MONDAY MORNING, I PURCHASED NEW FILLER CAPS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED AT FBO IN CONCORD.

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.