Oil Cooler Failures

The following is derived from maintenance facility submissions to the FAA’s Service Difficulty Reports database.

Aviation Safety

Friday, August 23, 2024 at 05:45 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipovic

Key Takeaways:

Oil cooler failures are a recurring issue across various aircraft models, manifesting as leaks, cracks, vapor lock, or internal defects.
These failures can occur in both very new parts (as low as 8-18 hours of operation) and those with considerable time in service (over 800 hours).
Consequences of failure often include significant oil loss, potential engine stoppage, emergency landings, and, in some cases, a lack of prior instrument warning.

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Cessna 177 Cardinal

New Oil Cooler Failure

Sometime after engine start, the eight-hour-old oil cooler developed a leak, resulting in engine stoppage approximately two minutes into the flight. The result was an emergency descent and off-airport landing. According to the technician, because the oil cooler is downstream of the oil pressure gauge, there were no warning indications on instruments.