Deviation from clearance. Pilot left his assigned altitude to return to land due to an oil pressure drop on the r-hand engine. He could not obtain a descent clearance because of frequency congestion.

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Attributes
ACN	299213
Time
Date	199503
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mml
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4300 msl bound upper : 4300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 27210 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	299213
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

At XA30 on departure from mml, piper PA31-350, 7 passenger on board, VFR conditions, IFR flight plan, going through 4300 ft, oil pressure started to drop in right engine so I reduced power on right engine and got a clearance to reverse course to my home base, mml and was told to expect visual approach. However, before I could get a visual clearance, I needed to descend to the airport and I did have it in sight. However, I had trouble communicating with my controller because she was busy with other aircraft and found it necessary to descend without a clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEV FROM CLRNC. PLT LEFT HIS ASSIGNED ALT TO RETURN TO LAND DUE TO AN OIL PRESSURE DROP ON THE R-HAND ENG. HE COULD NOT OBTAIN A DSCNT CLRNC BECAUSE OF FREQ CONGESTION.

Narrative: AT XA30 ON DEP FROM MML, PIPER PA31-350, 7 PAX ON BOARD, VFR CONDITIONS, IFR FLT PLAN, GOING THROUGH 4300 FT, OIL PRESSURE STARTED TO DROP IN R ENG SO I REDUCED PWR ON R ENG AND GOT A CLRNC TO REVERSE COURSE TO MY HOME BASE, MML AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT VISUAL APCH. HOWEVER, BEFORE I COULD GET A VISUAL CLRNC, I NEEDED TO DSND TO THE ARPT AND I DID HAVE IT IN SIGHT. HOWEVER, I HAD TROUBLE COMMUNICATING WITH MY CTLR BECAUSE SHE WAS BUSY WITH OTHER ACFT AND FOUND IT NECESSARY TO DSND WITHOUT A CLRNC.

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.