Beech 1900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Confusion; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft
After leveling off for cruise. I pulled the power levers to set cruise power. As I did I noticed the torque continued to decrease even as I pushed the power levers further and further forward. Eventually the N1 reached below 30% and torque was bouncing between 300 and 500. The plane was losing airspeed rapidly so I request a descent. The propeller was wobbling in the air stream and the plane was shaking. I tried everything I could think of; then came to the conclusion I would need to shut the engine down and feather the propeller. After [advising] ATC I diverted to a nearby airport. Loss of power [occurred] right away. At the time I had no idea [why]. Maintenance came to where I was and determined a failure in the FCU (Fuel Control Unit) caused the engine to lose almost all powerFollowing training procedures securing the engine and landing as soon as practical.Maintenance [is] checking the state of the FCU; but it seemed like a rare event that might be difficult to predict and train for.
Beechcraft 1900 Captain reported loss of engine power during flight due to FCU failure.