Date: 201203
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Q400
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Powerplant Lubrication System
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Training / Qualification
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: #1 (left) engine was shutdown in cruise flight. [We] received a #1 ENG OIL PRESS WARNING. Looked at the oil pressure to verify and gauge showed dashes (---). Noted that the engine seemed to already be shutting itself down as they were executing the memory items; Captain noted that the torque was decreasing rapidly even prior to power lever movement during shutdown procedure. We ran QRC memory items for ENGINE FAILURE/FIRE/ SHUTDOWN; followed by QRH. Engine was shutdown in approximately 1 minute or less from the initial indication an emergency was declared. Post shutdown; the #1 FADEC FAIL WARNING and POWERPLANT message appeared on the ED. Briefed flight attendants and passengers. Everyone was calm throughout. [I] was almost over one of our station airport which I was familiar with. Weather was VFR with wind 210 at 6 KTS. QRH performance landing distance calculated at 2;700 FT at 58;000 LBS. There were weather cells to the north and south as shown in the attachment which led the crew to choose this airport. I did not feel they had time to text dispatch. They were able to compute performance themselves which I feel was a good decision given these circumstances. Made a flaps 15 landing and brought the airplane to a stop on the runway. Approximately half the runway was used. Airplane was NOT evacuated and there was no indication of fire. Busses were used to move the people from the aircraft to the terminal. No injuries. No upset passengers. No comments from passengers. Aircraft was subsequently towed to the west ramp of the airport.


Second narrative: During cruise we received a master warning light and aural chime that directed our attention to the CWP where the #1 Oil Pressure light was illuminated. I was the pilot flying so the Captain performed the QRC which directed for the memory items for ENGINE FAILURE/FIRE/SHUTDOWN to be completed. Memory items were completed; shutting the #1 engine down; followed by the QRH. During this time ATC was trying to communicate with us and they were told to standby. After the checklists were completed; the Captain notified ATC we needed to divert to the nearest suitable airport. We were then radar vectored to the airport where an uneventful single engine landing was performed by the Captain. The flight controls were transferred to the Captain after he communicated with the flight attendants and passengers of the situation. The aircraft was stopped straight ahead on the runway. The Captain started making phone calls to company while I was in communication with ATC and the ground crew. The passengers were eventually taken by bus to the terminal and the plane was then towed to the west side of the airport near the GA terminal.


Synopsis: A Q-400 crew reported the loss of engine oil inflight. As they prepared to shut the engine down it auto shutdown; so an emergency was declared; the QRH was completed; and the flight diverted to a nearby airport.