Maybe its the reporting, but I'm confused. If the starter was out of oil wouldn't it have blown its brains out on the last start? The report said, "the engine starter motor sheared off". Could that indicate the starter clutch didn't disengage after the last start, so even with the start valve closed the gearbox was back driving the starter which it's not supposed to do, and eventually the starter just said bollox and gave up? That said, wouldn't the shaft have sheared before the starter fell off, assuming it was still engaged? Does anybody think they mean the oil leaked from the gearbox starter pad carbon(or whatever they use these days) or starter drive shaft seals; this would mean a loss of engine oil via the gearbox and eventually a shut down if the leak was big enough or the flight long enough?
Confused of Minnesota....