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A C421 in cruise declared an emergency and diverted due to loss of #1 engine oil caused by a false locked oil filler cap.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 386665 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199711 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : dhn |
| State Reference | AL |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : dhn |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Golden Eagle 421 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zjx |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 150 |
| ASRS Report | 386665 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | observation : passenger |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Oil cap on left engine became dislodged causing a partial oil loss. Passenger idented, we coordinated an emergency descent under power with ATC assistance to dothan, al. No oil pressure was lost, only about 4 quarts of oil. C421 C model aircraft caps can be secured only partially with 1 tab hooked, seeming to be secure when checked. Reinstalled cap, replenished oil and went on our way. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the oil cap has 2 tabs that lock into the oil tank filler neck and if only 1 tab locks on the filler neck it can appear to be locked. The reporter said anyone who is unfamiliar with this cap can false lock it and not be aware it is not locked. The reporter states the aircraft is normally svced by an FBO and he makes an extra effort to make certain the service people are alerted to this oil cap problem.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C421 IN CRUISE DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO LOSS OF #1 ENG OIL CAUSED BY A FALSE LOCKED OIL FILLER CAP.
Narrative: OIL CAP ON L ENG BECAME DISLODGED CAUSING A PARTIAL OIL LOSS. PAX IDENTED, WE COORDINATED AN EMER DSCNT UNDER PWR WITH ATC ASSISTANCE TO DOTHAN, AL. NO OIL PRESSURE WAS LOST, ONLY ABOUT 4 QUARTS OF OIL. C421 C MODEL ACFT CAPS CAN BE SECURED ONLY PARTIALLY WITH 1 TAB HOOKED, SEEMING TO BE SECURE WHEN CHKED. REINSTALLED CAP, REPLENISHED OIL AND WENT ON OUR WAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE OIL CAP HAS 2 TABS THAT LOCK INTO THE OIL TANK FILLER NECK AND IF ONLY 1 TAB LOCKS ON THE FILLER NECK IT CAN APPEAR TO BE LOCKED. THE RPTR SAID ANYONE WHO IS UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS CAP CAN FALSE LOCK IT AND NOT BE AWARE IT IS NOT LOCKED. THE RPTR STATES THE ACFT IS NORMALLY SVCED BY AN FBO AND HE MAKES AN EXTRA EFFORT TO MAKE CERTAIN THE SVC PEOPLE ARE ALERTED TO THIS OIL CAP PROB.
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.