Did They Shut Down the Engine and Glide In

[pelmet]

From TSB....

C-FMYW, a Pilatus PC-12/45 operated by Air Bravo Corp, was conducting IFR flight AB1237 from Thunder Bay Airport (CYQT), ON, to Sudbury Airport (CYSB), ON. After departing Runway 25 and climbing through 2700 feet ASL, the flight crew felt a decrease of engine power (Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B) and observed an abnormally high engine torque indication. The flight crew initiated a turn back for Runway 07 and elected to shut the engine down. The aircraft landed on Runway 07 and came to a stop. There were no injuries. The aircraft's right tire was flat, but there was no other damage to the aircraft.

Following the occurrence, the operator's maintenance replaced the engine torque pressure transducer and followed up by conducting an engine performance test. The aircraft was then released to service. During subsequent flights over a few days, the aircraft experienced other events, such as an uncommanded reduction in power during taxi, a frozen torque indication on an approach with loss of power lever control for approximately one minute, and, while on the ground, a false torque indication was observed. The operator's maintenance conducted follow-ups after each event. The airframe fuel filter was replaced, and PY lines and bleed air lines rigging was inspected and deemed serviceable. They also replaced the propeller governor, beta carbon block, and torque limiter; followed by engine parameter testing within serviceable limits. After the last event, an engine service facility inspected the engine torque meter system and found debris intermittently blocking the oil bleed port from the torque system. Post-repair engine parameters tested normal and the aircraft was returned to service.

[digits_]

Why would they shut down their only engine? What situation were they worried about?

[CpnCrunch]

Why would they shut down their only engine? What situation were they worried about?

They were on the climb out, so they could (presumably) easily glide back to the reciprocal runway. Perhaps they were worried about a catastrophic engine failure or fire. "Abnormally high torque" doesn't sound good.

[bobcaygeon]

Why would they shut down their only engine? What situation were they worried about?

They were on the climb out, so they could (presumably) easily glide back to the reciprocal runway. Perhaps they were worried about a catastrophic engine failure or fire. "Abnormally high torque" doesn't sound good.

Abnormally high torque sounds like an unscheduled propeller feathering. Primary indications are very high torque and low prop RPM, eventually dropping to 0, in other PT-6's

[Daniel Cooper]

It's so fortunate these engine/propeller failures keep happening close to the runway.

[2R]

The shut down and glide was this one :

https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/3 ... the%20root.

Narrative:
A Pilatus PC-12/45 aircraft operated by Air Bravo Corp., was conducting flight PCO1414 from Kenora (CYQK), ON, to Thunder Bay (CYQT), ON, with 2 crew onboard. During final approach into CYQT at approximately 9 nautical miles from runway 12, the flight crew powered back the engine and the aircraft's engine started vibrating. The flight crew pitched the nose up to gain altitude and observed abnormally high engine internal turbine temperature (ITT) and high NG (gas generator) on the engine gauges with no corresponding increase in engine power. The crew acknowledged the abnormality, declared an emergency and manually shut down the engine. The crew continued the glide and landed the aircraft safely on Runway 12. The pilot taxied off the runway with remaining momentum. There were no reported injuries and no further damage to the aircraft.
The aircraft was towed to the hangar for further inspection. The operator's maintenance inspection indicated that blades separated from the PT2 disc at the root.

[Dias]

And this one:

A single-engine Pilatus PC-12/45 aircraft (serial number 258, registration C-FPCN) operating as Air Bravo flight 1203 departed Hornepayne, Ontario, at 2140 Eastern Standard Time in instrument meteorological conditions. The flight crew, consisting of 2 pilots and a flight paramedic, were returning with the aircraft to Timmins after a day of patient transfer flights and an aircraft change in Thunder Bay. Approximately 60 nautical miles from the Timmins Airport at 15 000 feet above sea level, the engine torque was indicating below the normal operating range. This was followed over the next couple of minutes by illumination of the amber oil pressure caution light, the red low oil pressure warning light, and the chip detector warning light, as well as the appearance of oil on the windscreen. The flight crew reduced engine power, declared an emergency, and requested a straight-in approach to Runway 10 at Timmins. The aircraft landed long and fast, became airborne again and then touched down approximately 1200 feet beyond the runway end in about 2 feet of snow. The aircraft slid about 300 feet and came to a stop on a heading almost 90° to the left of runway orientation. The crew were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

[‘Bob’]

Sounds like it’s better to shut down the engine.

[digits_]

It's so fortunate these engine/propeller failures keep happening close to the runway.

And in VMC....

I am still amazed TC allows single engine IMC in these things. I really think it's mainly luck there haven't been any serious accidents yet.

[goingnowherefast]

Plenty of King Airs crash for dumber reasons.

Obviously I'd prefer 2+ engines (and sufficient training) as well, but the PC-12 is "safe enough" with a single derated PT-6.

[itsgrosswhatinet]

This one was lucky. Both that the sea ice was a decent runway after the engine failed, and that they were close enough to Rankin to be rescued before dying from exposure.

https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/387719