Engine shutdown enroute and diverted and landed.

Attributes
ACN	87183
Time
Date	198805
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jax airport : dab
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : jax artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 9400 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	87183
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5300 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	87436
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Problem began after leveling off at 7000'. The left engine oil pressure began to fluctuate. Because all other engine parameters were normal I suspected a gauge malfunction. However, the fluctuations became greater and were also dropping lower on the scale, so I elected to shut down the engine before any possible damage might occur. We landed safely and smoothly at daytona beach, fl. It was found on arrival at the gate that the oil cap FLIP-lock was not 100% locked down. The cap was still secure though. In this situation, oil can be forced through the cap O ring, causing a slow loss of oil. Although the copilot said he was sure the caps were 100% locked down, he may have been mistaken. I believe he was the last person to touch the oil caps. Their was no damage to the engine of aircraft, and once maintenance personnel inspected and serviced the engine, we continued with the aircraft in revenue service. All the passenger were very satisfied with the way we handled the problem. Compliments from all.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENGINE SHUTDOWN ENROUTE AND DIVERTED AND LANDED.

Narrative: PROB BEGAN AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 7000'. THE L ENG OIL PRESSURE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. BECAUSE ALL OTHER ENG PARAMETERS WERE NORMAL I SUSPECTED A GAUGE MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, THE FLUCTUATIONS BECAME GREATER AND WERE ALSO DROPPING LOWER ON THE SCALE, SO I ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENG BEFORE ANY POSSIBLE DAMAGE MIGHT OCCUR. WE LANDED SAFELY AND SMOOTHLY AT DAYTONA BEACH, FL. IT WAS FOUND ON ARR AT THE GATE THAT THE OIL CAP FLIP-LOCK WAS NOT 100% LOCKED DOWN. THE CAP WAS STILL SECURE THOUGH. IN THIS SITUATION, OIL CAN BE FORCED THROUGH THE CAP O RING, CAUSING A SLOW LOSS OF OIL. ALTHOUGH THE COPLT SAID HE WAS SURE THE CAPS WERE 100% LOCKED DOWN, HE MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN. I BELIEVE HE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO TOUCH THE OIL CAPS. THEIR WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ENG OF ACFT, AND ONCE MAINT PERSONNEL INSPECTED AND SERVICED THE ENG, WE CONTINUED WITH THE ACFT IN REVENUE SVC. ALL THE PAX WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE WAY WE HANDLED THE PROB. COMPLIMENTS FROM ALL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.