Service difficulty report · Transducer · Pilats PC1245

Difficulty date
March 10, 2016
Submitted
March 11, 2016
Operation
General aviation
Filed by
ESMR688D
Epps Air Service LLC
Aircraft
N401SM
Make and model
Pilats PC1245
Aircraft serial
255
Aircraft time
6,504 hours, 5,948 cycles
Engine
Pwa PT6A67A
Engine time
6,353 hours, 5,776 cycles
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Transducer
Part number
9752115206
Part serial
776512574
Condition
Erratic
Location
Torque
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

ACFT LINED UP FOR TAKEOFF. AFTER SETTING POWER AT 43 PSI TORQUE, A STANDARD TAKEOFF OCCURRED. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL, THE MASTER CAUTION ILLUMINATED AND SAW THE TORQUE GAUGE SURGING BACK AND FORTH FROM 35-51 PSI, ABOVE MAX LIMITATIONS, WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING THE THROTTLE. TRIED ADJUSTING THE THROTTLE LOWER, TO NO AVAIL, DID NOT FEEL THE ENGINE ITSELF SURGE, BUT BEING SO CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND CONCENTRATING ON FLYING, COULD NOT CHECK ALL THE OTHER GAUGES AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. ASKED THE COPILOT, WHO HAD JUST SWITCHED TO DEPARTURE FREQUENCY TO ADVISE WE NEEDED TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN AND RETURN TO LAND IMMEDIATELY. COPILOT RELAYED THAT TO ATC, WHO ASKED IF WE WERE DECLARING AN EMERGENCY FOR PRIORITY. WE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, REMAINED LT CLOSED TRAFFIC AND RAN THE APPROPRIATE CHECK LISTS. ONCE THE POWER WAS PULLED BACK TO ABOUT 30 PSI, THE TORQUE SURGING STOPPED. WE MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING ON RUNWAY 15 AND TAXIED IN. NO EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE USED OR EVER SEEN.