Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 75
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During cruise; observed oil entering cockpit through the firewall. Decided to make a precautionary landing. Uneventful approach and landing.Post flight inspection revealed a catastrophic failure of the fiber gasket in the Stratus Tools (Tempest) Model CO-300 spin off oil filter adapter. This is a known issue which has led to 3 fatalities and has recently been identified by the NTSB in a report 'Stratus Oil Filter Adapter Assembly Leaks' dated 30 NOV 2020. Note this was released just 17 days before my event. Please be advised. The NTSB refers to the manufacturer of the part by the parent company; Stratus; not the Tempest branded part most commonly known to pilots and mechanics. Previously this same part was manufactured by F&M.Key Takeaway- The NTSB needs to advise operators by using the Tempest brand to create maximum awareness. Better; the FAA needs to make this an Airworthiness Directive (AD) per the NTSB recommendation.Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) ran a story- 'NTSB Flags Oil Filter Adapter In Continental Engine Failures' (8 DEC 2020) and brought this to the attention of many pilots; myself included. Unfortunately; I did not know that Stratus (also F&M) is Tempest. Had that distinction been made clear; I never would have flown without checking the part as per the NTSB recommendation. I have since reached out to AOPA and asked them to re-run the story. Thus far they have only made the correction.I could never be so lucky again. I caught this failure in flight just in time in order to make a precautionary landing instead of a forced landing. Perhaps your good office could get this word out. If it can happen to me it can happen to anyone. Thanks for your efforts to be a PROACTIVE safety tool.
Pilot reported making a precautionary landing after oil was observed entering the cockpit through the firewall. Post flight inspection revealed that the gasket on the oil filter adapter had failed.