Ground feathering on PA 34
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 38
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From: Toronto
Ground feathering on PA 34
After landing on a PA 34, on low RPM taxiing, one engine stopped and feathered. I restarted, it unfeathered rotating above 1000 and on low RPM (800) it gradually stopped and feathered again.
I restarted, it unfeathered and I pulled mixture lever cut off. The engine stopped and after some seconds I saw the dead propeller feathers to rotate slowly to the feathered position.
What is going on?
I restarted, it unfeathered and I pulled mixture lever cut off. The engine stopped and after some seconds I saw the dead propeller feathers to rotate slowly to the feathered position.
What is going on?
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 1,129
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From: Station 42
Prop dome air charge being too high is the first thing I'd suspect. Other less likely causes may be internal oil leaks or broken latches.
Has it just come off maintenance?
Has it just come off maintenance?
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 7
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From: Recently? All over the place.... but mostly somewhere between Europe and the UK....
Maybe something to do with the low rpm feathering stops (forgot what exactly they were called 
) maybe they're broken as stevef suggested...
But if it the dome air pressure was too high how come it didn't show during the runup when the proper idling of the engines was checked..?
) maybe they're broken as stevef suggested... But if it the dome air pressure was too high how come it didn't show during the runup when the proper idling of the engines was checked..?
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 244
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From: Australia
Your case sounds a little unusual since it's moving to feather when stopped. Usually happens due to the very low oil pressure at idle. Most often presents itself with a high OAT and/or an engine which is reaching the end of its life as all the oil leaks past the worn bearings. I suggest keeping RPM at or above around 1000 rpm and usually if you shut down from this it won't feather. Most annoying thing is trying to start the feathered engine and you'll find that a full rich start usually won't work.
Joined: Jun 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Australia
What is going on?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,658
Likes: 501
From: Canada
If the prop feathers with the engine not running then feather latches inside the dome have to be broken. These latches prevent the blades from moving to feather when the engine oil pressure decreases as the engine shuts down. This failure is not that unusual on light twins used for training. The repair requires removal of the prop and sending it to a prop shop. You can expect a bill of around $2000 USD.
