SR22
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 1225; Flight Crew Type 409
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
We departed in our SR22T with sufficient oil in engine (POH states 6-8 Quarts; in engine 6.25 quarts). During the climb out at 5000 feet there was a slight RPM drop and soon thereafter the oil warning light came on. Oil pressure dropped and we decided to [advise ATC]; turn back where we landed without further incidence. On the ground we checked the aircraft and had only 2 quarts of oil on the ramp.The aircraft had a cylinder replaced under warranty at its annual in March and the break-in procedure has been followed. Before the annual the aircraft worked perfectly well. Something was wrong with the aircraft after the cylinder replacement; it used more oil than before. We had the aircraft checked a number of times at the repair station; including a flight with the mechanic. The aircraft performed well during that flight and after a slight adjustment of oil pressure by the repair station in March there was nothing speaking against the mission from in April. As a consequence of the oil pressure loss and the unplanned return in April we had the engine taken off the airplane and sent to the manufacturer for further inspection (Continental).
The reporter stated that he was not a mechanic; so he can only state what he was told. The reporter stated that the Oil Separator may have been damaged during an engine repair. The reporter also stated that there may have been some carbon that may have come loose from the engine and lodged under the spring that controls the oil pressure. It was noted that the external part of the belly of the airplane was saturated with oil. He only had 2 quarts when he landed. The reporter stated that Continental Motors had to completely rebuild the engine in order to make it serviceable.
SR22 pilot reported detecting a slight drop in RPM during climbout followed by an oil warning light and low oil pressure.