I think within the last hour or so.

Landed kict. No further issues.

Well you are a role model in handling engine issues. Having read your thread the least I could do was follow your example. You go to all that trouble right? Thankfully no tear down.

Explain the photo, Mark

Master caution. No possible chance of missing it. Of course you see that at every shutdown. Reach up and punch it off. When it pops on mid flight it is a bit shocking. Immediately looked at Annunicator panel. Soft glow of left engine oil pressure lo. Looked at pressure gauge. It was dropping like a stone. Told SIC we have lost oil pressure, get checklist out. Verified I had correct power lever and said I was shutting it down. Made the call to ATC that we had an emergency and needed to return to KDET. He said KPTK was closest and I thought bingo....service techs. He asked about souls and fuel and if I wanted to roll trucks. I said no to the trucks...honestly it’s not that big a deal. First time I had shut down one in the actual aircraft. No difference. Hardly any yaw.

Confession: It’s noteworthy that it was flipping freezing in KDET. Like 0F. I asked the SIC to check the oil. Why not make himself useful no? He is 6’6”. As we walked out to plane he randomly rechecked the left engine. For a nano second it crossed my mind to check but it was so cold I passed. Three years ago I left a dip stick loose on an engine check and after about a 30 second run I found oil everywhere.

When we had the problem tonight I immediately knew what it was. All I could think of was 1) I knew I should of checked 2)how hard is to do it correctly 3) I wonder if the other one is going to have the same issue.

When I landed I wasn’t mad or vexed. I just said let’s have a look and see what we have. Stick was out of position. Oil everywhere. Tried hard not to make him feel bad. Said we caught it in time. No harm no foul. Done it myself. This guy is working on becoming an airline pilot. Hate to crush his dream at this stage. Clearly he was sick about it.

Mechanic does his work. Goes to replace the stick and notices it doesn’t latch tightly. He can wiggle it out. Other mechanic says he seen this before and finds the safety tabs deformed. Some nifty work and a bit of safety wire and we are back in business. The right engine cap was properly locked. Since he check that too I know he knows how to do it correctly. I really think he did it right and the problem was with the cap. He is still shook but is feeling a bit better.

From FA

I do have video of the landing.

Hmmm much calmer with two turning than I would be with one feathering... several airports nearby. SETP would have been aiming for nearest not mechanics for good reason. Sure glad no damage to your engine either. What a relief that is.

Well done Mark!

Flown like a boss Mark, well done.

From the comfort of my couch, fireplace on, it’s noteworthy how many incidents happen when something causes us to be outside of our normal: it’s really cold, VIP in the back, fuel or handling fees to high at KABC, have to attend that board meeting, non pilot SIC, chattery/restless grandkids on board, etc etc.
I’m training myself to consciously slow down when any of these out of norm parameters are present. My latest was that the snow clearing crew had left a dam of sorts in front of my hangar door. Took quite a bit to get the plane out.
One of the reasons I abolsutely love the checklist handwritten addenda by his wife from a BT’er. Words to the extent of : we love you, please be careful and focus.

Well done Mark!

I want to hear the swearing when you saw the oil pressure dropping

Hopefully he can use it to learn rather than let this eat up his confidence.

Stuff happens. Glad you didn’t have any pax. That would have been interesting.

Well done Mark. That will be “the” video.

This really highlights the value of a master caution system. All planes should have something similar. It can be as easy as a fully functional engine monitor with a remote light.

Do the tabs deform from people not being careful when reinstalling, ie ham-fisted? Is the cap visible when being installed or is it more of reaching up in and doing it by feel?

I don’t get the sense it is ham-fisted. It’s just fatigue over time. The cap is visable for some. Less so for others. My SIC is 6’6”. He has no problem seeing it.

You'd think they would have a sight glass for checking oil.