Narrative:

While at cruise altitude (5000 ft MSL) en route; the left engine began to surge repeatedly. This continued for approximately 5-7 mins; at which point the PIC elected to divert to ZZZ. The PIC was directed to contact approach control and was vectored for the ILS approach at ZZZ. During the approach; and near the vicinity of the FAF; the left engine failed completely. The autofeather system worked as designed and feathered the left propeller. The PIC executed the immediate action steps for an engine failure and continued the approach. The landing was safely accomplished without further incident. Upon landing rollout; the PIC noted that the nosewheel steering did not have enough authority/authorized to execute a r-hand turn into the operating engine to clear the active runway. After several repeated (unsuccessful) attempts to turn right; the PIC elected to attempt to restart the left engine. The engine started immediately and without any indication of a malfunction. The PIC subsequently exited the active runway and taxied to the FBO. The cause of the malfunction and subsequent is still under investigation at the diamond service center.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DA42 PILOT EXPERIENCED LEFT ENGINE SURGING AND LATER COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE ON THE GROUND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE ALT (5000 FT MSL) ENRTE; THE L ENG BEGAN TO SURGE REPEATEDLY. THIS CONTINUED FOR APPROX 5-7 MINS; AT WHICH POINT THE PIC ELECTED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ. THE PIC WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT APCH CTL AND WAS VECTORED FOR THE ILS APCH AT ZZZ. DURING THE APCH; AND NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE FAF; THE L ENG FAILED COMPLETELY. THE AUTOFEATHER SYSTEM WORKED AS DESIGNED AND FEATHERED THE L PROP. THE PIC EXECUTED THE IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS FOR AN ENG FAILURE AND CONTINUED THE APCH. THE LNDG WAS SAFELY ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. UPON LNDG ROLLOUT; THE PIC NOTED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AUTH TO EXECUTE A R-HAND TURN INTO THE OPERATING ENG TO CLEAR THE ACTIVE RWY. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED (UNSUCCESSFUL) ATTEMPTS TO TURN R; THE PIC ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE L ENG. THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. THE PIC SUBSEQUENTLY EXITED THE ACTIVE RWY AND TAXIED TO THE FBO. THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND SUBSEQUENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AT THE DIAMOND SVC CENTER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.