I own a 1977 Archer. I flew it on Monday for a little over an hour with no issues. This morning, I taxied to the fuel farm to top off the tanks and, when I exerted foot pressure to push my seat back, my foot skidded onto the rudder pedals like I’d stepping on a banana peel.
When I looked down, the rubber mat was partially covered in oil. It looked as though about 3-4 tablespoons worth. The maintenance director at the FBO came out and said there was a little oil on the oil pressure gauge transducer (senser). He said the fitting was tight so we started the engine (with the poor guy contorted under the panel) and nothing leaked.
I taxied back and put the plane in the hangar and pulled the top cowl cover. There was no evidence of oil anywhere. I did notice that several drops were on the hangar floor that morning. I haven’t leaked a drop of oil since my last overhaul in 2014. I left a paper towel on the pilot’s side floor where the leak was and after an hour, only 1 or 2 drops fell on the paper towel.
Has anyone encountered this? Is it simply a seal that needs to be replaced or do these things occasionally “burp” oil for no particular reason. The A&P didn’t seem concerned but if something isn’t supposed to leak oil – but does – I find myself on a mission to determine the cause and mitigate the issue.
