Bolter Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 https://generalaviationnews.com/2023/09/26/maintenance-error-leads-to-in-flight-oil-leak/ The article series scrubs details to provide some anonymity, but I am not sure that works well when they cite an airplane model made in quantity 1. I suspect this report is from many years ago, despite the recent publication in this article. -dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 I tried to search the ASRS database for “Predator” but all of the results were for drone events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Ellis Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 I think that @Bolter is correct about this being an old story. Being as the only M20 T Predator that was ever built by Mooney is currently owned by Don Maxwell down in Longview, Texas. It was flown in the Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh this year and is currently airworthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smwash02 Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 The article references the ACN number which you can look up on ASRS. It's from April of this year. ACN: 1990965 (1 of 1) Time / Day Date : 202304 Local Time Of Day : 1201-1800 Place Locale Reference.ATC Facility : ZZZ.ARTCC State Reference : US Relative Position.Angle.Radial : 90 Relative Position.Distance.Nautical Miles : 21 Environment Flight Conditions : VMC Weather Elements / Visibility.Visibility : 100 Light : Daylight Aircraft Reference : X ATC / Advisory.Center : ZZZ Aircraft Operator : Personal Make Model Name : M-20 T Predator Crew Size.Number Of Crew : 1 Operating Under FAR Part : Part 91 Flight Plan : IFR Mission : Personal Flight Phase : Cruise Route In Use : Direct Airspace.Class E : ZZZ Component : 1 Aircraft Component : Powerplant Lubrication System Aircraft Reference : X Problem : Malfunctioning Component : 2 Aircraft Component : Reciprocating Engine Assembly Aircraft Reference : X Problem : Malfunctioning Component : 3 Aircraft Component : Cylinder Aircraft Reference : X Problem : Malfunctioning Problem : Improperly Operated Person Location Of Person.Aircraft : X Location In Aircraft : Flight Deck Reporter Organization : Personal Function.Flight Crew : Pilot Flying Function.Flight Crew : Single Pilot Qualification.Flight Crew : Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Qualification.Flight Crew : Multiengine Qualification.Flight Crew : Instrument Experience.Flight Crew.Total : 5346 Experience.Flight Crew.Last 90 Days : 18 Experience.Flight Crew.Type : 1737 ASRS Report Number.Accession Number : 1990965 Human Factors : Troubleshooting Events Anomaly.Aircraft Equipment Problem : Critical Anomaly.Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural : Maintenance Anomaly.Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural : Clearance Anomaly.Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural : Published Material / Policy Detector.Automation : Aircraft Other Automation Detector.Person : Flight Crew Were Passengers Involved In Event : N When Detected : In-flight Result.General : Maintenance Action Result.Flight Crew : Diverted Result.Flight Crew : Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification Result.Flight Crew : Landed in Emergency Condition Result.Air Traffic Control : Provided Assistance Assessments Contributing Factors / Situations : Aircraft Primary Problem : Aircraft Narrative: 1 I was VFR on-top on an IFR flight plan from ZZZ direct to ZZZ1. My airplane had two cylinders replaced at an aircraft maintenance shop about 5 tachometer hours previously. The engine oil level was measured normal (7 quarts) before the flight. At about the ZZZ state line, I noticed fluctuations of the engine oil pressure indication. This was concerning, so I made a 180 turn and informed ATC that I was returning to my departure airport. I then observed the oil pressure gradually decrease toward the red line. I determined that ZZZ2 was the closest airport, and informed ATC that I was diverting there. Fortunately my engine kept running without high temperatures and I landed at ZZZ2 safely. Exiting the airplane, I saw a lot of oil behind the left side of the cowling. After calling flight service to inform ATC of my landing, I contacted a local mechanic, and removed the engine cowling. The mechanic found loose rocker-cover screws on the recently-replaced cylinders, one of which was missing the exhaust valve rocker cover, causing an oil leak. Only a small quantity of oil remained in the engine. Obviously, more careful torque-checking of the screws by the mechanics should have been done. I was very lucky to have made the airport before oil starvation and engine seizure, which could have occurred minutes later. In retrospect, I should have immediately diverted to the nearest airport at the first indication of an anomalous oil pressure reading, instead of several minutes later. My current awareness of how this incident could have ended badly will shorten this response time, should i be unfortunate enough to have a similar experience again. Synopsis Mooney M20 pilot reported a loss of oil pressure during cruise and the need to divert to a nearby airport for landing. Upon inspection, it was discovered a missing rocker cover caused an oil leak and only a small amount of oil remained in the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly Boomer Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 15 hours ago, Bolter said: https://generalaviationnews.com/2023/09/26/maintenance-error-leads-to-in-flight-oil-leak/ The article series scrubs details to provide some anonymity, but I am not sure that works well when they cite an airplane model made in quantity 1. I suspect this report is from many years ago, despite the recent publication in this article. -dan I'll bet a nickel the original aircraft "model" was chosen from the M20P or M20T list meaning it's turbocharged, but you have no idea what the model is. Then M20T from the list of Mooney models (M20A, M20B, M20C, etc.) was translated to "Predator". Typical 21st-century journalism. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1980Mooney Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 4 hours ago, Fly Boomer said: I'll bet a nickel the original aircraft "model" was chosen from the M20P or M20T list meaning it's turbocharged, but you have no idea what the model is. Then M20T from the list of Mooney models (M20A, M20B, M20C, etc.) was translated to "Predator". Typical 21st-century journalism. Although the knee-jerk reaction is to ridicule and blame the news media, "journalism" didn't have anything to do with it. Perhaps you didn't closely read @smwash02 's post above. He copied the the exact data entry that appears in the FAA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). The FAA intentionally "obscured/disguised" some of the identifiable information, which was self-reported by the pilot. The fourth line under "Aircraft" says Make Model Name : M-20 T Predator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A64Pilot Posted October 9, 2023 Report Share Posted October 9, 2023 Interesting the “Predator “ wasn’t ever certified I don’t believe was it? If not then it shouldn’t fly as a Predator but as Experimental? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.