A C172 pilot notices a small oil leak from the filler door on top of the cowling and while thus distracted he allows the aircraft to descend. A ZME controller noted his deviation.

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Attributes
ACN	380750
Time
Date	199709
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : maw
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 354 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	380750
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

During the cruise portion of the flight, a small oil leak was observed from the oil fill access door on the top of the engine cowling. Concern over this event distracted the pilot from a normal scan sequence. During this time, the plane descended to 400-500 ft below assigned altitude. While correcting with a climb, center inquired as to the airplane's altitude and restated the altimeter setting for the nearest station.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT NOTICES A SMALL OIL LEAK FROM THE FILLER DOOR ON TOP OF THE COWLING AND WHILE THUS DISTRACTED HE ALLOWS THE ACFT TO DSND. A ZME CTLR NOTED HIS DEV.

Narrative: DURING THE CRUISE PORTION OF THE FLT, A SMALL OIL LEAK WAS OBSERVED FROM THE OIL FILL ACCESS DOOR ON THE TOP OF THE ENG COWLING. CONCERN OVER THIS EVENT DISTRACTED THE PLT FROM A NORMAL SCAN SEQUENCE. DURING THIS TIME, THE PLANE DSNDED TO 400-500 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT. WHILE CORRECTING WITH A CLB, CTR INQUIRED AS TO THE AIRPLANE'S ALT AND RESTATED THE ALTIMETER SETTING FOR THE NEAREST STATION.

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.