Incident Overview
A commercial air taxi pilot was returning to base on a cross-country positioning flight when he observed that the engine oil pressure gauge registered zero. All other engine gauge readings appeared normal. The pilot elected to continue the flight.
Sequence of Events
Approximately 45 minutes after noting the zero oil pressure indication, the engine seized. The pilot performed a forced landing on an oil service road. During the landing, the airplane collided with a ditch and sustained substantial damage.
Post-Accident Examination
A postaccident inspection of the engine was conducted by company maintenance personnel and an FAA airworthiness inspector. The inspection revealed that the engine seized due to a lack of oil. No evidence of preimpact oil leakage was discovered.
The FAA inspector noted that the engine was a high-time unit and was nearly ready for an overhaul. The inspector indicated that the pilot could have returned to the departure airport or landed at several suitable sites along the route while engine power was still available, but the pilot chose to continue toward the operator's base.