Homebuilt turbo-propeller single suffers loss of oil pressure; declares emergency; and lands safely.

Attributes
ACN	757420
Time
Date	200710
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Saab 2000
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 720
ASRS Report	757420
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil pressure gauge
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was in cruise flight at 6000 ft when I noticed the oil pressure had dropped to 64 psi. It normally is at 78 psi on this engine. I advised ATC I had an oil pressure problem and requested a deviation to the nearest airport. ATC advised ZZZ was at 12 O'clock position and 10 mi. ATC asked if I wanted to declare an emergency and I replied 'affirmative.' ATC then cleared me to 5000 ft. I descended to 5000 ft and ATC then cleared me to 4400 ft. While descending to 4400 ft; ATC lost me on radar and attempted to contact me several times. I responded to each contact; but they could not hear me. I then called ATC and told them I had the airport in sight and was canceling my IFR flight plan. ATC could not hear that transmission; and I heard an air carrier pilot advise ATC that I had been acknowledging their xmissions and that I had the airport in sight and was canceling my IFR flight plan. I then landed at ZZZ airport without incident. Upon examination; the right side oil cooler had cracked and was leaking oil. I called a mechanic who ordered another oil cooler and sent one of his employees to install it when it arrived the next day. Once the installation was complete; the aircraft was tested and determined to be airworthy and we continued on our trip.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOMEBUILT TURBO-PROP SINGLE SUFFERS LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE; DECLARES EMERGENCY; AND LANDS SAFELY.

Narrative: I WAS IN CRUISE FLT AT 6000 FT WHEN I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO 64 PSI. IT NORMALLY IS AT 78 PSI ON THIS ENG. I ADVISED ATC I HAD AN OIL PRESSURE PROB AND REQUESTED A DEV TO THE NEAREST ARPT. ATC ADVISED ZZZ WAS AT 12 O'CLOCK POS AND 10 MI. ATC ASKED IF I WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMER AND I REPLIED 'AFFIRMATIVE.' ATC THEN CLRED ME TO 5000 FT. I DSNDED TO 5000 FT AND ATC THEN CLRED ME TO 4400 FT. WHILE DSNDING TO 4400 FT; ATC LOST ME ON RADAR AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ME SEVERAL TIMES. I RESPONDED TO EACH CONTACT; BUT THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. I THEN CALLED ATC AND TOLD THEM I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WAS CANCELING MY IFR FLT PLAN. ATC COULD NOT HEAR THAT XMISSION; AND I HEARD AN ACR PLT ADVISE ATC THAT I HAD BEEN ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR XMISSIONS AND THAT I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WAS CANCELING MY IFR FLT PLAN. I THEN LANDED AT ZZZ ARPT WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON EXAM; THE R SIDE OIL COOLER HAD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING OIL. I CALLED A MECH WHO ORDERED ANOTHER OIL COOLER AND SENT ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES TO INSTALL IT WHEN IT ARRIVED THE NEXT DAY. ONCE THE INSTALLATION WAS COMPLETE; THE ACFT WAS TESTED AND DETERMINED TO BE AIRWORTHY AND WE CONTINUED ON OUR TRIP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.