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PA31 pilot forgot to replace the dipstick after adding oil to one engine. Fifty miles from destination a dramatic power loss is noted along with falling oil pressure; the engine was subsequently shut down. An uneventful landing ensued at the destination.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 929720 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201101 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Oil Filler Cap |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300 Flight Crew Total 6200 Flight Crew Type 2100 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
During my preflight I left the oil dipstick between the propeller and the engine cowling while I placed oil into the aircraft. Another plane on the ramp started up next to mine and I became distracted. After the oil finished draining from the container; I threw away the empty bottle and left the oil access door open. While I was away; apparently the dipstick fell onto the ground. When I returned I thought I had replaced the dipstick into the engine so I shut the open door. The flight seemed normal until I was fifty miles out. I noticed at this time that my left engine had a dramatic loss of power. I immediately checked my oil pressure gauge and noted falling oil pressure on the left engine. I verified that it was my left engine losing power and shut it down and secured it. I notified ATC of my problem. I continued to destination and performed an uneventful single-engine landing. Once in the ramp area; I noted that the entire left engine cowling was covered in a thick film of oil. I checked under the access door for the oil dipstick and discovered that the oil dipstick was missing. I called the FBO at the departure airport and a line guy informed me that they had found an oil dipstick on the ramp after I left.after a complete inspection by a qualified a&P maintenance technician; the engine was not damaged in any way due to the quickness of the shutdown. Because of the 26 hours (including eight hours in actual instrument conditions with multiple approaches) of flying in the previous four days; and a rough commute to work; I was very tired on the day that the incident occurred. I believe that the amount of stress and work mitigated my abilities to function as competently as I normally do. The way that I can prevent similar situations from arising in the future is to find a way to get more rest in between flights and force myself to notice smaller details that can easily be overlooked. Also; when I place oil into the engine; I hold onto the dipstick in order to verify that I replace it properly into the engine before I fly.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA31 pilot forgot to replace the dipstick after adding oil to one engine. Fifty miles from destination a dramatic power loss is noted along with falling oil pressure; the engine was subsequently shut down. An uneventful landing ensued at the destination.
Narrative: During my preflight I left the oil dipstick between the propeller and the engine cowling while I placed oil into the aircraft. Another plane on the ramp started up next to mine and I became distracted. After the oil finished draining from the container; I threw away the empty bottle and left the oil access door open. While I was away; apparently the dipstick fell onto the ground. When I returned I thought I had replaced the dipstick into the engine so I shut the open door. The flight seemed normal until I was fifty miles out. I noticed at this time that my left engine had a dramatic loss of power. I immediately checked my oil pressure gauge and noted falling oil pressure on the left engine. I verified that it was my left engine losing power and shut it down and secured it. I notified ATC of my problem. I continued to destination and performed an uneventful single-engine landing. Once in the ramp area; I noted that the entire left engine cowling was covered in a thick film of oil. I checked under the access door for the oil dipstick and discovered that the oil dipstick was missing. I called the FBO at the departure airport and a line guy informed me that they had found an oil dipstick on the ramp after I left.After a complete inspection by a qualified A&P Maintenance Technician; the engine was not damaged in any way due to the quickness of the shutdown. Because of the 26 hours (including eight hours in actual instrument conditions with multiple approaches) of flying in the previous four days; and a rough commute to work; I was very tired on the day that the incident occurred. I believe that the amount of stress and work mitigated my abilities to function as competently as I normally do. The way that I can prevent similar situations from arising in the future is to find a way to get more rest in between flights and force myself to notice smaller details that can easily be overlooked. Also; when I place oil into the engine; I hold onto the dipstick in order to verify that I replace it properly into the engine before I fly.
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.