Cardinal 177/177RG
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 298; Flight Crew Type 128
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Took off from Runway 24L and after reaching approx 1;200 FT ALG and just starting my departure turn to the south I felt oil dripping on my leg. Within seconds I had oil pouring onto my leg and the floor and oil pressure was showing 0. I immediately called Tower who was still in my comm. freq and informed them of the oil in cockpit and 0 oil pressure and that I needed to return immediately. They cleared my direct back to airport and offered 06R the same runway (24L) I had just departed from. I immediately pulled the power to idle; full flaps and made a landing pulling off the runway and shutting down the engine. After being pulled back to the FBO; we pulled the cowl and saw no signs of oil in the engine compartment. Upon further inspection the copper oil pressure tube that comes through the firewall had broken off at the flare and allowed oil to spew into the cockpit emptying almost all 7.5 quarts of oil that were in the engine into the cockpit floor and behind instrument panel.
C177 pilot experiences an oil leak shortly after takeoff with oil dripping on his leg. The Tower is notified and the reporter is able to make 180 degree turn and land opposite direction on the departure runway. Post flight revealed that the oil line that supplies the oil pressure gauge had broken off at the fire wall.