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An IFR PA24 pilot successfully diverted to a nearby airport with the assistance of ATC when he lost control of the propeller pitch which caused the engine to over-rev and severely erode aircraft performance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 962135 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201107 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-24 Turbo Comanche |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Propeller Pitch Change Mechanism |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 5300 Flight Crew Type 2200 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
Climbing through 8000 MSL on an IFR flight; I lost propeller control. The engine was overheating and the prop overspeeding to the extent that I had to reduce power and could not maintain altitude. Approach gave me a vector to the ILS approach and cleared me to join at 2800'. I descended through 2800 to 2200 before I could maintain altitude with 15' of manifold pressure and 2800 RPM. I also had 238 degrees oil and 450 degrees cylinder head temperatures; at or above their red lines. All the while I was in VMC and looking for suitable landing sites in case one was needed. At one point approach gave me a heading to another airport two miles closer and I briefly turned toward it but on second thought returned direct to the original airport as I was in stabilized flight. I realize now that I probably should have declared an emergency; or at least canceled IFR as I was never actually in IMC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An IFR PA24 pilot successfully diverted to a nearby airport with the assistance of ATC when he lost control of the propeller pitch which caused the engine to over-rev and severely erode aircraft performance.
Narrative: Climbing through 8000 MSL on an IFR flight; I lost propeller control. The engine was overheating and the prop overspeeding to the extent that I had to reduce power and could not maintain altitude. Approach gave me a vector to the ILS approach and cleared me to join at 2800'. I descended through 2800 to 2200 before I could maintain altitude with 15' of manifold pressure and 2800 RPM. I also had 238 degrees oil and 450 degrees cylinder head temperatures; at or above their red lines. All the while I was in VMC and looking for suitable landing sites in case one was needed. At one point approach gave me a heading to another airport two miles closer and I briefly turned toward it but on second thought returned direct to the original airport as I was in stabilized flight. I realize now that I probably should have declared an emergency; or at least canceled IFR as I was never actually in IMC.
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.