A loose oil line to a PA-46 oil pressure transducer caused a loss of torque during climb. The engine...

Narrative:

Engine start at XA34 oil pressure oil temperature and torque normal. Takeoff at XA46; temperature; torque and oil pressure normal. Climbed to approximately 11;000 ft; lower than normal torque noticed; requested return to ZZZ and received permission from approach. Upon making turn noticed further degradation of torque and drop in oil pressure. Determined that altitude enough to assure landing at ZZZ. Followed emergency engine shutdown procedure and advised approach at XA56. Approach advised that ZZZ was VFR with 3 miles visibility and that I was cleared to land on any runway and asked if I wanted to declare an emergency. I said not at this time; because I knew I had enough altitude; in fact I had to fly a downwind approach and make s-turns to lose altitude; landed safely at XB03. Upon inspection of the aircraft a loose fitting at the oil pressure transducer was found. This was not visible on preflight and there was no sign of oil leaking or dripping.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A loose oil line to a PA-46 oil pressure transducer caused a loss of torque during climb. The engine was shut down at 11;000 FT and the pilot glided to a power off landing at his departure airport. An emergency was not declared.

Narrative: Engine start at XA34 oil pressure oil temperature and torque normal. Takeoff at XA46; temperature; torque and oil pressure normal. Climbed to approximately 11;000 FT; lower than normal torque noticed; requested return to ZZZ and received permission from Approach. Upon making turn noticed further degradation of torque and drop in oil pressure. Determined that altitude enough to assure landing at ZZZ. Followed emergency engine shutdown procedure and advised Approach at XA56. Approach advised that ZZZ was VFR with 3 miles visibility and that I was cleared to land on any runway and asked if I wanted to declare an emergency. I said not at this time; because I knew I had enough altitude; in fact I had to fly a downwind approach and make S-turns to lose altitude; landed safely at XB03. Upon inspection of the aircraft a loose fitting at the oil pressure transducer was found. This was not visible on preflight and there was no sign of oil leaking or dripping.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	820315
Time
Date	200901
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Oil Line
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11 Flight Crew Total 4880 Flight Crew Type 233
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

A loose oil line to a PA-46 oil pressure transducer caused a loss of torque during climb. The engine was shut down at 11;000 ft and the pilot glided to a power off landing at his departure airport. An emergency was not declared.