PLT OF AN SMA SEL DIVERT LANDED AFTER OBSERVING LOWER THAN NORMAL OIL PRESSURE INDICATION.
Synopsis
PLT OF AN SMA SEL DIVERT LANDED AFTER OBSERVING LOWER THAN NORMAL OIL PRESSURE INDICATION.
Narrative
IN 1100 HRS IN THIS AIRPLANE; THE OIL PRESSURE NEEDLE IN CRUISE; WITH OIL WARM; 'COVERED UP THE 5' OF THE 50 LB INDICATOR. AFTER CLBOUT FROM FALMOUTH; 5B6; I LEVELED OFF AT 2500 FT. I THEN LOOKED AT THE OIL PRESSURE AND COULD 'SEE THE 5.' I LOOKED AT IT FOR A FEW MINS FROM ALL ANGLES; PINCHED MYSELF; NOTICED IT WAS IN THE GREEN ARC; BUT DEFINITELY LOWER. I DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG IN NEW BEDFORD; AND I CONTACTED PROVIDENCE APCH ON 133.85 FOR HELP WITH THIS UNPLANNED LNDG. AFTER 3 UNANSWERED CALLS THEY FINALLY ANSWERED; REQUESTING THAT I STAND BY. SINCE I FIGURED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE COULD CONTINUE TO DECLINE AT ANY MIN; I DECLARED AN EMER. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. ON THE GND; A FULL PWR RUN-UP SHOWED; ONCE AGAIN; COMPLETELY NORMAL OIL PRESSURE. BUT I TOOK THE NIGHT WATCHMAN'S OFFER OF A RIDE TO THE HOTEL. THE NEXT MORNING; THE MECH AND I CUT OPEN THE OIL FILTER -- IT WAS CLEAN. AFTER SEVERAL RUN-UPS WITH NO MORE ANOMALIES; AND IN DAYLIGHT; I CONTINUED THE FLT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TOLD MY BOSS; WHO WOULD HAVE TO STAND IN FOR ME AT MY MORNING MEETING; THAT I RAN A HIGHER PRICED AIRLINE THAN ACR X'S. SHE UNDERSTOOD. NOTE: MECH'S OPINION IS THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A PIECE OF CRUD INTERFERING WITH THE OIL PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.