Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Distraction; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
After departure on the upwind the left engine began rapidly surging and lost power. I called the tower and reported a left engine failure and wanted to return to land. I was told to make left traffic. On the crosswind I elected to shut the engine down to stop the constant yawing for better landing control. On the downwind I elected to restart the left engine on the crossfeed. The engine appeared to run normally after that. We were cleared to land. On the downwind just prior to base I put the gear down. The left main gear indicator light did not illuminate but the gear unsafe light was off. I recycled the gear. Same issue noted. On final I asked the tower if the left main gear appeared down. The controller said it appeared so. I elected to land as the gear unsafe light was off; indicating that the squat switch had been closed. Nothing further occurred. I reported the entire incident.
A twin engine aircraft crew experienced left engine surging after takeoff. As a precaution they shut the engine down. They then restarted the engine while returning to land and it ran normally. However; when they lowered the landing gear the left main gear indicator did not light. Since the gear unsafe light did not illuminate; they continued to a normal landing.