Caravan 208B
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300; Flight Crew Total 3900; Flight Crew Type 1800
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
We arrived at the hold short line and we had a positive exchange of the flight controls.  Tower cleared us to takeoff and turn to 360 on departure.  We conducted the line up checklist and then began our takeoff roll.  I called airspeed alive; then 50 knot cross check; [the First Officer] then said to set torque. I began to set torque and realized I had the power lever all the way to the stop and only producing 1;600 on the torque. As we gained airspeed; it got up to 1;650 and that was it.  We were below our rotating speed of 85 knots and I called for 'abort takeoff and my flight controls.' I took over the flight controls and reduced power to beta and applied brakes.  We exited the runway and I called to Tower; 'Aborted takeoff.'  I asked to return to our gate and we taxied there to deplane our passengers.  Proper procedures were conducted as I called Flight Ops; and told him the situation of our aborted takeoff.  I told him that we would need Maintenance to look at the plane.  I jumped out of the plane and explained to Maintenance what happened. I talked to Maintenance and told him exactly what happened.  He then mentioned to me that they knew of the issue already and this has been going on for the past couple of days.  He said that our Director of Maintenance came out this same day to try to fix the issue; but once he got the plane he realized he forgot the tools he needed to adjust the torque settings.   Maintenance then stated that when the aircraft comes back tonight; after our flight; they were going to fix the issue.  I would have thought that there would have been a write up about this issue on the aircraft.  I also would have though that any Maintenance personnel would have told us about this issue before we left the gate because Maintenance was there when we left.  There were no records of this problem and no one telling us about this issue that they already knew about!  It's very frustrating knowing the pilots before were experiencing these problems and told Maintenance about it and they still flew the airplane.  However; the previous crew never officially documented or wrote the issue up. The First Officer and I then taxied the plane back to the FBO so they could work on it.  They worked on it for a couple hours and then ran the plane up after they fixed it and it checked out to be good.  They stated that they adjusted the torque setting.  I asked if he wanted me to write this up in the discrepancy sheets and he said no because he is fixing the issue now.  [The First Officer] and I then jumped back into the aircraft and did our own run-up and it checked out well.  We were getting max torque of 1;865.  This satisfied me and then we continued our trip 3 hours after we were scheduled to depart.  Maintenance's reason for not producing enough torque was because it is due for an overhaul in the next 150 or so hours. Also; while waiting I called the last crewmember that was flying the aircraft this same day.  The First Officer of the flight stated it was showing the same results and they could barely climb to 9;000 feet.  This gets me very upset.  Anytime I fly; I think of safety first.  Put corporate reactions and money aside; think of passenger safety; people on the ground's safety and your own safety!  This should not be happening and I feel some pilots might be too nervous to write some things up on the aircraft because they are afraid of what might happen to them within the company.  For example: hours getting taken away or even being let go from the company.  We should not feel this way!  We should feel that our company supports us as pilots and respects our actions when it comes to safety. Now I have a meeting on Monday with our Director of Ops; our FAA Company Representative; and our Director of Maintenance.  Who knows what will come of it; but all I know is that the phone call I received from our Director of Ops today was not very comforting.  He pretty much made me feel like I did something wrong.  Hementioned that the incident report I submitted to the company the same day needs to be reworded so that we don't get punished by the FAA.  To me; this felt like he was trying to put fear into me stating the FAA will be coming down on me because I did something wrong in all of this.  In my heart and in my mind; I know I did nothing wrong. I was thinking of safety first.  I was thinking of my passengers; the lives on the ground; and I was thinking of my family and myself.  I felt the plane was unsafe to fly and I aborted the takeoff.
After being cleared for take off by Tower. I was the Pilot Flying; I identified the runway and began my takeoff roll. I called for max torque to be set by the Pilot Monitoring then a few seconds later I heard the Captain yell abort takeoff. At this time the Captain called for the aircraft controls in which we positively exchanged. After the abort we began our taxi back to the ramp. The Captain informed me that the aircraft was not producing maximum power. So we unloaded the passengers and took the plane to Maintenance where the issue was resolved.
C208 flight crew reports rejecting a takeoff for low torque. Upon returning to the line the crew is informed that Maintenance is aware of the problem although no logbook entries have been made. The engine is 'repaired' and the flight departs three hours late.