mad_jock,
Think Trim Stab's first comment was tongue-in-cheek!
Thanks for your insight into current ops on the F27. It's a very long time since I had to contemplate feathering a Dart prop. The modern turb-props seem to feather every time the engine is shut down, which is kind of the designers?
(For any uninitiated readers:
jet-jockeys usually have it easier; if only because the momentum of the fan takes a while to be lost, and no feathering is needed to avoid the instant drag of a CSD-driven prop going into full-fine pitch.)
Do you agree it seems unlikely that a blade would be shed as a RESULT of autofeather of the prop following an engine failure (and consequent loss of torque or oil pressure)? Unless 3 blades feathered and one didn't...
My money is still on a fatigue failure of the blade as the primary failure.