Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125; Flight Crew Total 2400; Flight Crew Type 700
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Weather; Procedure
This was an IFR flight; takeoff and climb was normal and the original altitude request of 4;000 FT was amended to 6;000 FT by the pilot in order to get on top of the cloud layer at 4;000 FT. No visible ice was observed during the climb out.Upon reaching 6;000 FT MSL; oil started to flow freely onto the wind screen. Under the control of TRACON an emergency was declared and assistance requested. TRACON responded by providing a new transponder code and vectors to the nearest airport. As oil pressure was decreasing rapidly; power was reduced and an emergency descent started. Because oil covered the windscreen; visibility was greatly reduced and the descent was made on instruments. TRACON continued to provide vectors to the airport until radar and voice contact was lost at about 2;300 FT MSL. Airport was identified and landing was made. Upon inspection of the aircraft; it was determined that the crankcase breather tube was blocked by ice. This caused the crankcase to be pressurized and oil was forced out through the crankcase/prop seal. The aircraft lost 5 quarts of its 8 quart capacity. Contributing factors could have been that the aircraft was placed on heat 48 hours prior to take off; creating an excessive amount of moisture within engine crankcase and within engine compartment. Ambient air temperature was below 0 degrees F. Air intake winterization kit was not installed. Engine was not generating enough heat to dissipate moisture. Moisture picked up from climb through clouds.
PA-28 pilot experiences loss of engine oil and pressure; an emergency is declared followed by an uneventful landing.