Date: 201304
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A300
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Cargo / Freight / Delivery
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Oil Pressure Indication
Component problem: Design; Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: We took off from Runway 23 and on climbout got an ECAM advisory on the right screen for Low Oil Pressure on Number Two Engine. Pressure was low on both the ECAM and the analog [pressure] gauge. The Captain said he wanted to level below the clouds above us as we reached 7;000 MSL. I got clearance from ATC to descend back down to 6;000 MSL. I then pulled the QRH and went to the Low Oil Pressure Checklist. I was reading the notes when the oil pressure continued to drop rapidly. We declared an emergency; notified Flight Control; shut down Number 2 Engine and got vectors back to [our departure airport]. Visual approach and landing to Runway-23 were uneventful. Note: the landing was overweight for 'Range Mode;' however the fuel in the center tank was under 200 LBS and the trim tank was empty and we were below the 'Payload Mode' landing weight. The landing was also of minimum descent rate and very soft. EFIS.


Second narrative: We took off on Runway-23. At approximately 5;500 FT MSL; I noticed an ECAM # 2 Engine Oil Pressure Advisory. Oil pressure was low. We compared pressure with another gauge - it confirmed low pressure. We notified ATC that we had an engine oil pressure problem and that we wanted to descend to 6;000 FT. We pulled out the QRH - Low Oil Pressure. Pressure continued to drop. We declared emergency. [We] notified Flight Control. Ran ECAM; shut # 2 Engine down. Did Quick Return Checklist; Approach Checklist. We were vectored by Approach and set up for a Single Engine visual to Runway-23. Approach and landing was un-eventful. No aircraft damage except the Oil Pressure System.

Second callback: Reporter stated the steam type [Analog] Oil Pressure Gauge and the digital Oil Pressure Indication on their CRT display were both showing a rapid drop in oil pressure. He thought the Low Oil Pressure light also came on. After shutting down # 2 Engine in-flight (IFSD) and landing under emergency conditions; company Maintenance later informed him that an Oil Pressure Sensor had failed; sending erroneous low oil pressure warnings; the oil pressure was OK on their Pratt-Whitney engines. Having to shut-down a functioning engine was very frustrating and unnecessary.

Synopsis: Two pilots report shutting down # 2 Engine inflight (IFSD) shortly after takeoff due to a rapid oil pressure loss and then landing an A300 aircraft under emergency condition. Maintenance later informed flight crew that the oil pressure was OK; but a pressure sensor had failed affecting indications.