[Steely Tom]

All turboprops have such pitch control. At least that I know of. Nobody uses it at a standstill though because of the damage done to the blades by getting sandblasted by grit, dirt, and small stones.

Well, I knew that much. I guess I assumed they had motion-limiting stops to keep the blades from going into a reverse-thrust configuration.

Oh. You mean they don't?

That's a little more than I wanted to know!

Seriously though, I would think that a professional pilot would know how to deal with that situation. If there's any way to deal with it, that is. All it would take would be a bad relay contact, or some other glitch, to make it happen.

(steely)

[blackdog]

It's mechanical linkage from the throttles quadrant, no relays, and it works off of oil pressure flowing thru the mechanically linked valves.

The main use is for short field braking or stopping distance. I've got a lot of time in King Airs and used it a lot. It saves a lot of wear on brakes and disks.

If it's ever used on the ramp area, the FBO will not want to see you again. If you run Garrett's, they don't want to see you anyhoo.

[Criminal Number 18F]

I assumed they had motion-limiting stops to keep the blades from going into a reverse-thrust configuration.

The prop levers are usually set up so that you can't inadvertently put it into reverse thrust. Kind of like you can't put a stick shift in reverse while going forward, because you have to lift an interlock, or whatever.

There was a Twin Otter guy who used to use beta thrust on descents to show off. One day only one prop went beta. That's a bad thing.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F