Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft
On climbout through approximately FL190 I noticed erratic engine oil pressure on the left hand engine. We complied with QRH; conferred with Dispatch; and returned to departure airport. After being cleared to land on short final; we received an intermittent left-hand engine oil low pressure red warning and executed a 'normal' landing. Upon clearing the runway the oil pressure warning that was intermittent became steady and we shut down the left-hand engine on taxi in. The initial diagnosis from the Mechanic that inspected the aircraft was excessive oil loss due to a mechanic not installing O-rings on an air turbine starter change the day prior.
CRJ200 Captain detects erratic oil pressure during climbout and elects to return to the departure airport. The oil pressure warning is flashing during approach and comes on steady after landing and the engine is shut down. Maintenance discovers O-rings were omitted on an air turbine starter change the day prior.