Instructor with multi student fails to replace oil filler cap dipstick during preflight.

Attributes
ACN	317252
Time
Date	199509
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1g3
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-44 Seminole Turbo Seminole
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 275 flight time type : 1
ASRS Report	317252
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

During preflight, it was noticed that both engines needed 1 qt of oil. The instructor filled the right engine and removed dipstick on the left engine while the student got another qt of oil. Then the student filled the engine and went to throw away the trash neglecting to put the dipstick back. While the student was disposing of the trash, the instructor walked away and got into the aircraft. During run-up, everything checked normal. After takeoff, we noticed oil running along the cowling of the left engine. The instructor took control of the aircraft and made a tight pattern to land. The student watched the gauges which indicated normal the entire time. Then we taxied back and shut down the engines. We found the dipstick, cleaned it and checked oil level. 2 qts remained, we added 3 qts and washed the oil from the aircraft. The cause of this incident was too many people helping on one thing. Only one person should be in charge of the aircraft. If anything needs to be added or changed, it should be accomplished by the pilot. Helping should only be to retrieve supplies that may be needed. This will ensure that the pilot has done all necessary actions to make the aircraft airworthy and there is no confusion as to who is doing what.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR WITH MULTI STUDENT FAILS TO REPLACE OIL FILLER CAP DIPSTICK DURING PREFLT.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT, IT WAS NOTICED THAT BOTH ENGS NEEDED 1 QT OF OIL. THE INSTRUCTOR FILLED THE R ENG AND REMOVED DIPSTICK ON THE L ENG WHILE THE STUDENT GOT ANOTHER QT OF OIL. THEN THE STUDENT FILLED THE ENG AND WENT TO THROW AWAY THE TRASH NEGLECTING TO PUT THE DIPSTICK BACK. WHILE THE STUDENT WAS DISPOSING OF THE TRASH, THE INSTRUCTOR WALKED AWAY AND GOT INTO THE ACFT. DURING RUN-UP, EVERYTHING CHKED NORMAL. AFTER TKOF, WE NOTICED OIL RUNNING ALONG THE COWLING OF THE L ENG. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AND MADE A TIGHT PATTERN TO LAND. THE STUDENT WATCHED THE GAUGES WHICH INDICATED NORMAL THE ENTIRE TIME. THEN WE TAXIED BACK AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGS. WE FOUND THE DIPSTICK, CLEANED IT AND CHKED OIL LEVEL. 2 QTS REMAINED, WE ADDED 3 QTS AND WASHED THE OIL FROM THE ACFT. THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS TOO MANY PEOPLE HELPING ON ONE THING. ONLY ONE PERSON SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE ACFT. IF ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE ADDED OR CHANGED, IT SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE PLT. HELPING SHOULD ONLY BE TO RETRIEVE SUPPLIES THAT MAY BE NEEDED. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE PLT HAS DONE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO MAKE THE ACFT AIRWORTHY AND THERE IS NO CONFUSION AS TO WHO IS DOING WHAT.

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.