SF340 flight crew reports oil pressure loss on left engine passing 10;000 ft during climb. Engine is...

Narrative:

Climbing through 10;000 ft; we noticed the left engine oil pressure was at the lower end of the green arc. Roughly 2 minutes later; the pressure dropped below the green arc into the yellow and the 'left engine oil pressure' light illuminated accompanied with the triple chime. We then proceeded to follow the emergency checklist and informed ATC that we planned to return to ZZZ. They asked if we would like to declare an emergency and we informed them that we would not need to at this time. Following the checklist; we were instructed to shut down and secure the left engine. At that point we decided to declare the emergency and get vectors toward the airport. After the checklist was completed; ATC informed us to expect runway xxc and to call the airport in sight. The landing was smooth and seemed normal. After taxiing off of runway xxc; arff met our aircraft on taxiway P and informed us that our left outboard tire was flat. We contacted maintenance and dispatch and were instructed to wait for maintenance to inspect the aircraft. Maintenance control; ATC; and arff were notified that we would need to remain on the taxiway and maintenance arrived shortly after. Due to the weight of the passengers on board; maintenance thought it would be best to deplane the aircraft before towing so as to not cause any stress to the strut and remaining left tire. While waiting for the bus to arrive for the passengers; our flight attendant informed us that some of the passengers reported seeing white smoke and water come out the right-hand side of the left engine nacelle prior to the inflight engine shutdown. Passengers were then deplaned and we were towed to the gate via maintenance with a police escort. After returning to the gate; we were informed by maintenance that the carbon seal they had replaced on the engine prior to our departure had been installed incorrectly causing an oil leak and a low oil pressure situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF340 flight crew reports oil pressure loss on left engine passing 10;000 FT during climb. Engine is shut down and flight returns to departure airport. Outboard tire fails during landing requiring tow to gate.

Narrative: Climbing through 10;000 FT; we noticed the left engine oil pressure was at the lower end of the green arc. Roughly 2 minutes later; the pressure dropped below the green arc into the yellow and the 'Left Engine Oil Pressure' light illuminated accompanied with the triple chime. We then proceeded to follow the emergency checklist and informed ATC that we planned to return to ZZZ. They asked if we would like to declare an emergency and we informed them that we would not need to at this time. Following the checklist; we were instructed to shut down and secure the left engine. At that point we decided to declare the emergency and get vectors toward the airport. After the checklist was completed; ATC informed us to expect Runway XXC and to call the airport in sight. The landing was smooth and seemed normal. After taxiing off of Runway XXC; ARFF met our aircraft on Taxiway P and informed us that our left outboard tire was flat. We contacted maintenance and dispatch and were instructed to wait for maintenance to inspect the aircraft. Maintenance control; ATC; and ARFF were notified that we would need to remain on the taxiway and maintenance arrived shortly after. Due to the weight of the passengers on board; maintenance thought it would be best to deplane the aircraft before towing so as to not cause any stress to the strut and remaining left tire. While waiting for the bus to arrive for the passengers; our Flight Attendant informed us that some of the passengers reported seeing white smoke and water come out the right-hand side of the left engine nacelle prior to the inflight engine shutdown. Passengers were then deplaned and we were towed to the gate via maintenance with a police escort. After returning to the gate; we were informed by maintenance that the carbon seal they had replaced on the engine prior to our departure had been installed incorrectly causing an oil leak and a low oil pressure situation.

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	829703
Time
Date	200904
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	SF 340B
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine Oil Seals
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 1624 Flight Crew Type 174
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Total 2200 Flight Crew Type 115
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

SF340 flight crew reports oil pressure loss on left engine passing 10;000 ft during climb. Engine is shut down and flight returns to departure airport. Outboard tire fails during landing requiring tow to gate.