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A cessna 172 in cruise at 4000 ft declared an emergency due to visible oil leak caused by the crankshaft forward seal failure.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 437315 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199905 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : btl.airport |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | other |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : azo.tracon tower : sba.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | instruction : instructor |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 700 |
| ASRS Report | 437315 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee |
| Qualification | pilot : student |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil quantity indicator other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition |
| Consequence | other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance performance deficiency : inspection |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
When my student leveled off at 4000 ft MSL, he completed the cruise checklist. I then noticed a film of oil moving up the windshield. I instantly called approach and told them we had an oil leak, we are canceling our IFR, and need to go direct to battle creek. Oil covered the aircraft and we were only able to see out the side windows after they were opened. I had my student looking out the window directing me to the runway. After landing, we taxied clear and shut down. Crash and rescue trucks followed us down the runway and inspected for threat of fire. Aircraft went to maintenance and the mechanic said the forward crankshaft seal failed which caused the oil leak.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A CESSNA 172 IN CRUISE AT 4000 FT DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO VISIBLE OIL LEAK CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT FORWARD SEAL FAILURE.
Narrative: WHEN MY STUDENT LEVELED OFF AT 4000 FT MSL, HE COMPLETED THE CRUISE CHKLIST. I THEN NOTICED A FILM OF OIL MOVING UP THE WINDSHIELD. I INSTANTLY CALLED APCH AND TOLD THEM WE HAD AN OIL LEAK, WE ARE CANCELING OUR IFR, AND NEED TO GO DIRECT TO BATTLE CREEK. OIL COVERED THE ACFT AND WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SEE OUT THE SIDE WINDOWS AFTER THEY WERE OPENED. I HAD MY STUDENT LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW DIRECTING ME TO THE RWY. AFTER LNDG, WE TAXIED CLR AND SHUT DOWN. CRASH AND RESCUE TRUCKS FOLLOWED US DOWN THE RWY AND INSPECTED FOR THREAT OF FIRE. ACFT WENT TO MAINT AND THE MECH SAID THE FORWARD CRANKSHAFT SEAL FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK.
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.