PA-31T Cheyenne I
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 9300; Flight Crew Type 325
Workload; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
IFR flight plan. Left engine lost torque on takeoff about 300 FT AGL. Feathered engine. All other gauges seemed to be functioning properly (in the green). Climbed to 4;000 FT MSL. Told Center of precautionary shutdown. At first decided to continue to our filed destination; since there was no maintenance at the departure airport. Looked at flight time and saw home airport was only 10 minutes further than the filed destination. Decided to notify ATC that we would divert first to ZZZ where passengers where picked up; then changed to home airport where maintenance could be performed. Tried to do air restart; but torque still was at 0. Seemed to be running at idle & throttle not working. Decided to shutdown again and feathered prop. Continued to home airport. Was quite impressed that we got 185 KTS GS on single-engine. Mechanic has checked engine and it seems throttle cable had broken loose. Crew environment worked very well together. Pilot flying flew airplane; while I diagnosed problems and went through checklists to verify all items were completed. Some may question the decision to continue to home airport. Once options were weighed on maintenance facilities and having to move people; plane; and possibly be stuck for several days; since no visible damage was noted; the decision to continue was made.
A PA-31T engine malfunctioned at 300 FT after takeoff so the engine was feathered but the flight continued to cruise altitude and diverted to the crew's home base where a broken throttle cable was found.