Return land and emergency traffic status questioned by tower supervisor when emergency declared by pilot in a C172 with the oil temperature indicator pegged on departure from fpr, fl.

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Attributes
ACN	548177
Time
Date	200205
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fpr.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fpr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : fpr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	548177
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil temp ind other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During climb out, I noticed that the oil temperature gauge remained pegged. Strange, since this is florida in summer. Called tower to return to field. Told to report 2 mi right base. I had a young passenger and did not want to take any chances. Due to traffic, tower then vectored me away from airport. I refused and declared an emergency. I was cleared to land and after landing, asked to call the tower supervisor. She was unhappy that her tower person had to redirct 5 or 6 planes for me. To her I say 'too bad!' fortunately, the problem was a faulty gauge and not an oil problem, but I did not know that until I was on the ground and the aircraft custodian checked things out for me. She didn't think a faulty gauge warranted more than a precautionary landing. I see her point (I could have mentioned the problem at my first call) but all in all, I would do the same thing again -- except sooner!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RETURN LAND AND EMER TFC STATUS QUESTIONED BY TWR SUPVR WHEN EMER DECLARED BY PLT IN A C172 WITH THE OIL TEMP INDICATOR PEGGED ON DEP FROM FPR, FL.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, I NOTICED THAT THE OIL TEMP GAUGE REMAINED PEGGED. STRANGE, SINCE THIS IS FLORIDA IN SUMMER. CALLED TWR TO RETURN TO FIELD. TOLD TO RPT 2 MI R BASE. I HAD A YOUNG PAX AND DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. DUE TO TFC, TWR THEN VECTORED ME AWAY FROM ARPT. I REFUSED AND DECLARED AN EMER. I WAS CLRED TO LAND AND AFTER LNDG, ASKED TO CALL THE TWR SUPVR. SHE WAS UNHAPPY THAT HER TWR PERSON HAD TO REDIRCT 5 OR 6 PLANES FOR ME. TO HER I SAY 'TOO BAD!' FORTUNATELY, THE PROB WAS A FAULTY GAUGE AND NOT AN OIL PROB, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT UNTIL I WAS ON THE GND AND THE ACFT CUSTODIAN CHKED THINGS OUT FOR ME. SHE DIDN'T THINK A FAULTY GAUGE WARRANTED MORE THAN A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. I SEE HER POINT (I COULD HAVE MENTIONED THE PROB AT MY FIRST CALL) BUT ALL IN ALL, I WOULD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN -- EXCEPT SOONER!

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.