Narrative:

Climbing out of rdu we received a 'right fadec' caution message. We consulted and complied with the QRH procedure page; abnormal 1-12 left (right) fadec message. Procedure follows:(1) affected thrust lever - idle (2) engine indications - monitornote: 1. Engine may operate normally; but without overspeed protection. 2. Engine RPM may reduce to idle setting. 3. Engine may shutdown.engine indications are normal: [ ] yesprior to landing:(3) ground prox flap - ovrd(4) affected thrust reverser - off(5) flaps - 20(6) approach speed - vref 45 + 12 KIAS(7) actual landing distance - increase-end-[ ] no(3) single engine procedures - in flight engine shutdown - accomplishbefore bringing the thrust to idle we decided to review the entire procedure to see which direction we were headed with our power management. We brought the right thrust slowly back to idle and the engine responded normally; no abnormal indications. We decided to bring the right thrust back up to match the left thrust and continued on our flight plan while we contacted dispatch and maintenance control. We continuously monitored the engines to be ready for any necessary responses. The question to dispatch and maintenance control was if we should leave the thrust at idle per step 1 in the QRH and get on the ground; or should we press on with the flight and monitor the engines. The QRH does not give clear guidance to resume normal operations if all engine indications are in order.the chief pilot's office was brought into the discussion and everyone agreed to proceed to destination and conduct a flaps 20 landing per steps 3 thru 7. It was decided to have emergency equipment standing by for arrival; necessitating declaring an emergency. Dispatch provided flaps 20 landing distance and I asked them to call ahead to notify destination ATC of our emergency status. I then briefed the flight attendants and the passengers; reassuring them that the aircraft was operating normally and the sight of emergency equipment upon landing was precautionary for the result of a non standard flap setting.the QRH is incomplete in its guidance of this caution message. Is the intent to either leave the engine at idle or to shut it down? If this were the case; I would think a 'land at nearest suitable airport' clause would be included in the procedure. Since 'land at nearest suitable' is not mentioned; I interpreted the 'monitor engine indications' (if they are normal take steps 3 thru 7 before landing) to mean that it would be appropriate to continue the flight albeit with a flaps 20 landing.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When engine controls operated normally following completion of the [loss of] L(R) FADEC checklist; a CRJ-700 flight crew was perplexed by the lack of checklist specificity regarding subsequent crew actions; i.e.; land at the nearest suitable airport; monitor and continue; etc.

Narrative: Climbing out of RDU we received a 'R FADEC' caution message. We consulted and complied with the QRH procedure page; Abnormal 1-12 L (R) FADEC MSG. Procedure follows:(1) Affected thrust lever - IDLE (2) Engine indications - MONITORNOTE: 1. Engine may operate normally; but without overspeed protection. 2. Engine RPM may reduce to idle setting. 3. Engine may shutdown.Engine indications are normal: [ ] YESPrior to landing:(3) Ground Prox Flap - OVRD(4) Affected thrust reverser - OFF(5) Flaps - 20(6) Approach Speed - Vref 45 + 12 KIAS(7) Actual Landing Distance - INCREASE-END-[ ] NO(3) Single Engine Procedures - In flight engine shutdown - ACCOMPLISHBefore bringing the thrust to idle we decided to review the entire procedure to see which direction we were headed with our power management. We brought the right thrust slowly back to idle and the engine responded normally; no abnormal indications. We decided to bring the right thrust back up to match the left thrust and continued on our flight plan while we contacted Dispatch and Maintenance Control. We continuously monitored the engines to be ready for any necessary responses. The question to Dispatch and Maintenance Control was if we should leave the thrust at idle per step 1 in the QRH and get on the ground; or should we press on with the flight and monitor the engines. The QRH does not give clear guidance to resume normal operations if all engine indications are in order.The Chief Pilot's office was brought into the discussion and everyone agreed to proceed to destination and conduct a flaps 20 landing per steps 3 thru 7. It was decided to have emergency equipment standing by for arrival; necessitating declaring an emergency. Dispatch provided flaps 20 landing distance and I asked them to call ahead to notify destination ATC of our emergency status. I then briefed the flight attendants and the passengers; reassuring them that the aircraft was operating normally and the sight of emergency equipment upon landing was precautionary for the result of a non standard flap setting.The QRH is incomplete in its guidance of this caution message. Is the intent to either leave the engine at idle or to shut it down? If this were the case; I would think a 'land at nearest suitable airport' clause would be included in the procedure. Since 'land at nearest suitable' is not mentioned; I interpreted the 'monitor engine indications' (if they are normal take steps 3 thru 7 before landing) to mean that it would be appropriate to continue the flight albeit with a flaps 20 landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.