Hey guys,

 

I realize the PC-12 has no prop lever, only a condition lever set to Ground Idle (1000 RPM) and Flight idle (1700 RPM). The only way I know how to feather the prop is to move the condition lever into Feather/Cut-Off...but than again that cuts off all the fuel to the engine.

 

Is there another way to Feather the prop while the engine is running? Just for safety in case of ground crew nearby or whatever the reason.

 

Hopefully there are a few Pilatus pilots who will be able to answer :)

 

Thanks!

A person being hit by a feathered prop spinning will be be just as hurt as a person hit by a non-feathered prop spinning. Feathering a prop by itself will not stop it. The engine has to be off for the prop to stop. There is no reason to feather a prop withl an engine running on a Pilatus. The only time you are going to find a feathered prop with an engine running is on some of the multiengine turboprops who may do it with one engine running and its prop feathered during ground ops in order to maintain electric generation while minimising noise. But you still don't want to get hit in the head with the feathered prop.

I certainly wasn't referring to running into a propellor with 1200HP behind it spinning at 500RPM or so. A friend of mine is left seat on a 350 and he feathers his props whenever he is near ground crew just for the fact that it's quieter, and there is very little air moving around it whereas an unfeathered prop is still throwing out thrust. I just think it's odd that you don't have full control of what the propellor does, even though it is equipped with FADEC. The SAAB 2000 (I realize this is a completely different airplane) has PCL's and no prop levers (kind of like the PC-12's way of operating) but the pilot again has full control over whether the prop is feathered, or unfeathered.

 

I was simply just curious as to whether the PC-12's systems are similar to all other free-turbine turboprops, because as of so far, it is the only PT6 powered aircraft that I know where the pilot doesn't have control over the feathering of the propellor.

 

Thanks for you input though :)