All those steps (minus feathering) occur in jets too. Planes like the ATR and the EMB-120 I flew all have autofeather. 99.99% of the time that system will work as advertised. There is the additional step of confirming it has worked. If it hasn't, that involves more for sure.
It looks to me at least the ATPCS worked as it should have, but the crew have applied a procedure to the wrong engine. Any way you look at it, it's a major cockup. Rushing never produces a positive outcome. Ever. I'd almost rather be in a forced landing scenario with an unfeathered propeller than shutting of the good engine. (Perhaps not on an EMB120 with 1800hp/side.) Beastly to control even with a feathered prop. Not sure about the ATR..
All that said, there may be a lot more to this one. Maybe not, however.
Last edited by FIRESYSOK; 6th Feb 2015 at 14:43.
Reason: clarifications, you know..