History of the Flight
On 12 May 2023, a Cessna 150M aircraft, registration EI-HJX, departed Newcastle Airfield (EINC) in County Wicklow at 14:55 UTC with an instructor and a student on board. After a touch-and-go at Waterford Airport (EIWF) at approximately 16:50 UTC, the aircraft headed north to return to EINC.
While flying at an altitude of about 2,500 feet northeast of Gorey, County Wexford, the instructor noticed a pungent engine smell. Moments later, hot engine oil began flowing from the instrument panel and onto the area near the instructor's feet. The oil pressure gauge indicated no pressure. The instructor briefed the student on a precautionary landing, selected a suitable field west of Tara Hill, broadcast a Mayday call, and landed without incident. Both occupants evacuated the aircraft within five to ten seconds. There was no fire.
Examination of the Failed Pipe
Inspection of the aircraft after landing revealed that the instrument panel had been opened and oil had pooled on the transponder unit. Behind the panel, a pipe supplying oil from the engine to the pressure gauge had fractured. The pipe consisted of two metal sections cut square and joined by a plastic sleeve approximately 27 cm long, secured with tie-wraps and locking wire. The plastic sleeve had broken at the junction of the two pipe sections, causing the oil leak.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) found no evidence that this method of repair was approved. Maintenance records did not reference the pipe, so the date of installation and duration of operation with the unapproved repair could not be determined.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained no damage during the landing and came to rest in a field of long grass. The wheels left curved track marks about 55 meters long. No injuries were reported.