I have been wondering about this for a while:
I fly an aircraft that has a variable pitch (constant speed) propeller. The propeller governor uses engine oil under pressure to drive the piston in the spinner and twist the blades into high pitch (low RPM) and centrifugal forces acting on weights to twist them into low pitch. So my question is: If I loose engine oil pressure but the engine keeps on running the blades would go into low pitch right? (because of centrifugal forces acting ont the weights)
The engine would most! probable quit if the pressure goes down, however if the pressure gauge shows that the pressure is dropping but the blades maintain the same pitch/RPM, it could mean that the gauge is faulty and that the real oil pressure is ok?
One more thing, if all the oil drains out during flight and the engine quits, can i feather the prop? (my guess is no)
hope you understand my questions
p.s. the airplane is a Cessna R172K