PLT OF AN SMA SEL FOUND OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENG COWLING INFLT AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK LOOSE AFTER LNDG.

Narrative

SOMEWHERE DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST 1/3 OF THE FLT; I NOTICED OIL 2-3 INCHES WIDE SLOWLY CREEPING OUT OIL DOOR TOP OF COWLING. I CAME TO A CONCLUSION THE OIL DIPSTICK MUST HAVE POPPED UP. THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN OIL PRESSURE; OIL TEMP; OR IN CHT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MINS AND IN FACT; FOR THE REST OF THE 1 HR 30 MIN FLT. THE OIL COMING OUT DID NOT SEEM EXCESSIVE ENOUGH TO WARRANT A STOP AT THE TIME. HINDSIGHT BEING 20/20 AND SIDING WITH CAUTION; IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SAFE TO LAND. I LANDED AND CHKED THE DIPSTICK. IT WAS NOT SECURE -- RESTING ON TOP OF TUBE. A FAIR AMOUNT OF OIL APPEARED ON TOP COWLING AND L SIDE OF ACFT. WINDSHIELD WAS FINE. I LEFT TO HELP THE ARCHITECTS I WAS FLYING FOR. RETURNED TO FIND AN FAA MAINT TAG ON THE AIRPLANE. I TALKED TO FAA INSPECTOR. HE SAID TO CHK BREATHER AND TO CHK WITH A FLASHLIGHT WHEN FLYING FOR MORE OIL. I ASKED HIM IF I WOULD BE IN VIOLATION IF I FLEW IT BACK. HE SAID 'NO THIS IS NOT A VIOLATION.' I TOLD HIM I FEEL SAFE IN FLYING IT BACK AFTER MY PREFLT. I PUT IN 1 QUART OF OIL AFTER THE LINEMEN PUT IN A QUART -- 9 1/2 QUARTS IN ALL; 1/2 QUART OVER USUAL LEVEL. THE OIL DIPSTICK IS SECURE AND BREATHER TUBE DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN CLOGGED. THE OWNER/OPERATOR HELPED ME WITH THE PREFLT THAT MORNING. I SAW HIM CHK THE OIL AND SECURE THE CAP BUT I GUESS HE DIDN'T SECURE IT GOOD ENOUGH; CONSEQUENTLY THE LEAK. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING ON RETURN TRIP. POSTFLT INSPECTION PROVED OIL TO BE AT 9 1/2 QUARTS. I SPOKE WITH AN FAA INSPECTOR. HE TOLD ME MAINT MEN WERE WAITING AFTER HRS TO LOOK AT THE AIRPLANE. THIS WAS NOT BROUGHT TO MY ATTN. AGAIN I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SIDED WITH EXTRA CAUTION AND ASKED FOR A MECH TO TAKE A LOOK. OWNER/OPERATOR REPLACED THE O-RING ON THE DIPSTICK THE NEXT DAY.