Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Company Policy; Human Factors; MEL; Procedure; Aircraft
Aircraft has history of oil needing added to left CSD (Constant Speed Drive). Last four flights had write-up of left CSD oil level low. One mentioned CSD in red band by maintenance tech (most likely during aircraft reposition. One additional write-up of excess oil from left engine cowling. Engine was run; no leaks noted; oil cleaned up; and signed off. Clearly here is an aircraft with a known discrepancy (left CSD leaking oil) and maintenance; rather than finding the leak and fixing it; re-fills the oil and releases it for flight. I told maintenance that I was uncomfortable taking the A/C (Aircraft). Had conference call with myself; dispatch; duty pilot; and maintenance control. Maintenance control agreed with my decision to not fly the A/C. We switched to a different aircraft and completed the turn uneventfully.Upon further investigation; I've discovered that A/C was re-assigned to a turn after I refused it. I spoke to him and he stated that upon his return to point of origin; excessive oil was on the left engine cowling and maintenance was looking into it.This A/C should never have been 're-assigned'. It should have been placed in maintenance with the goal of finding the source of the oil leak. In my opinion; this practice is completely unsatisfactory.I expect and demand follow-up regarding the practice of re-dispatching an aircraft that has been deemed unairworthy by a Captain; and a Dispatcher; Duty Pilot; and Maintenance supervisor by implicit concurrence.
Captain refused aircraft due to repeat CSD (Constant Speed Drive) oil leak on left engine. Company reassigned aircraft to another crew which accepted and flew the trip. That crew experienced the same CSD leak.