Be-1900 PIC continues takeoff even as first officer calls, 'torque is below minimums for takeoff.'

Attributes
ACN	315458
Time
Date	199509
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ict
State Reference	KS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	315458
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the initial part of the takeoff roll the captain appeared confused by the engine readouts. At one point he checked the propellers were forward by pushing on them. At this point I could see that the propeller RPM was good but torque was reading 2500 pounds, and we needed a minimum torque of 3245 to takeoff. As I called 80 KTS we still indicated the same torque regardless of his advancing of the power levers. I announced, 'torque is below minimum for takeoff.' 'that's your problem.' at that I expected he would abort. As we went through V1 he rotated. We completed the flight with unreliable torque indications. The indication was low for both engines. Maintenance replaced a fuse in the indication system and it was fixed. I reported him to the chief pilot because he seemed to act like he did the right thing. In reflecting on it with other pilots, one suggested that I also should have said, 'aren't you going to abort!' I also read that if you use the person's first name when asking for action from them, it's more of an attention getter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE-1900 PIC CONTINUES TKOF EVEN AS FO CALLS, 'TORQUE IS BELOW MINIMUMS FOR TKOF.'

Narrative: DURING THE INITIAL PART OF THE TKOF ROLL THE CAPT APPEARED CONFUSED BY THE ENG READOUTS. AT ONE POINT HE CHKED THE PROPS WERE FORWARD BY PUSHING ON THEM. AT THIS POINT I COULD SEE THAT THE PROP RPM WAS GOOD BUT TORQUE WAS READING 2500 LBS, AND WE NEEDED A MINIMUM TORQUE OF 3245 TO TKOF. AS I CALLED 80 KTS WE STILL INDICATED THE SAME TORQUE REGARDLESS OF HIS ADVANCING OF THE PWR LEVERS. I ANNOUNCED, 'TORQUE IS BELOW MINIMUM FOR TKOF.' 'THAT'S YOUR PROB.' AT THAT I EXPECTED HE WOULD ABORT. AS WE WENT THROUGH V1 HE ROTATED. WE COMPLETED THE FLT WITH UNRELIABLE TORQUE INDICATIONS. THE INDICATION WAS LOW FOR BOTH ENGS. MAINT REPLACED A FUSE IN THE INDICATION SYS AND IT WAS FIXED. I RPTED HIM TO THE CHIEF PLT BECAUSE HE SEEMED TO ACT LIKE HE DID THE RIGHT THING. IN REFLECTING ON IT WITH OTHER PLTS, ONE SUGGESTED THAT I ALSO SHOULD HAVE SAID, 'AREN'T YOU GOING TO ABORT!' I ALSO READ THAT IF YOU USE THE PERSON'S FIRST NAME WHEN ASKING FOR ACTION FROM THEM, IT'S MORE OF AN ATTN GETTER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.