Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On climb out left engine failed. We were climbing through 17;000 feet when failure occurred. [Advised ATC] and we diverted to [nearby airport]. All QRC checklists were complied with. Landing was uneventful. No passengers on board.When we checked the oil sight gauge after landing it was showing approximately 1/3 quart low. The engine was absolutely covered in oil on the outside of the cowling; inside of the cowling; and it was actively dripping from the engine. The FBO placed several buckets under the engine to catch the oil. There was clearly more than 1/3 of a quart of oil in the buckets and the 1/3 quart low indication was what was indicated before departure. I would suggest an investigation to see if there is a problem with the sight gauges.
The engine failure occurred during a ferry flight. Captain was acting as the PIC/pilot monitoring and I was acting as the SIC/pilot flying. The event occurred during initial climb between 17;000 and 17;500 feet. The number 1 engine made a mechanical squeal; rolled back and seized. This was during the span of several seconds. Autopilot was disengaged; the pilot monitoring [advised ATC]; and the engine failure QRC was run. We were cleared to level at 17;000 feet. ATC advised that [nearby] airport had VFR clear weather and 20-30 miles away. We accepted this as a suitable airport and we're cleared at pilot's discretion to 3;000 feet while being vectored for a visual approach. We were then cleared to 2;300 feet. We accomplished the single engine approach and landing checklists. After approach and landing to runway we taxied; parked and contacted the necessary parties.During inspection of the aircraft we observed that a large quantity of oil was leaking from the cowling of the affected engine. However; the oil sight gauge was showing a half quart of oil low. We both found this did not reflect the amount of oil that had been lost.
A Citation jet flight crew reported the failure of an engine due to an oil system malfunction. The engine was secured; and a successful diversion to a suitable airport was accomplished.