Narrative:

My crew swapped into a new aircraft in the afternoon. Aircraft had flown during day. The company checklist states, 'entire checklist (originating) to be used in its entirety prior to first flight of day. Upon initial acceptance of an aircraft, only the asterisked items shall be completed.' the propeller sync is normally turned off on the final before-landing checklist, but the previous crew overlooked this item. We did not, or we were expected or required to check that propeller sync was off, as it is not an asterisked item. Upon rotation, with propellers to maximum RPM and propeller sync inadvertently on, propeller sync system activated. On this aircraft the #2 propeller adjusts speed to sync on #1 propeller (#1 is master, #2 is slave). #2 engine torque began fluctuation 15-20%. We immediately decided to return for landing. Upon completion of final before-landing checklist we discovered propeller-sync on. We turned it off and torque surges stopped. The captain didn't want to admit that we had discovered problem. He felt that even though the FAA approved checklist didn't require us to check the propeller-sync, the FAA and management would hold us responsible. Consequently, our mechanics had to troubleshoot problem and replace a part (which I'm sure was fine). I wonder who many times this has happened before and how many more time it will happen before someone has courage to communicate problem to management and FAA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADEQUATE PREFLT AND MINOR EQUIPMENT PROBLEM LEADS TO A RETURN FOR LNDG FOR ACR MDT.

Narrative: MY CREW SWAPPED INTO A NEW ACFT IN THE AFTERNOON. ACFT HAD FLOWN DURING DAY. THE COMPANY CHKLIST STATES, 'ENTIRE CHKLIST (ORIGINATING) TO BE USED IN ITS ENTIRETY PRIOR TO FIRST FLT OF DAY. UPON INITIAL ACCEPTANCE OF AN ACFT, ONLY THE ASTERISKED ITEMS SHALL BE COMPLETED.' THE PROP SYNC IS NORMALLY TURNED OFF ON THE FINAL BEFORE-LNDG CHKLIST, BUT THE PREVIOUS CREW OVERLOOKED THIS ITEM. WE DID NOT, OR WE WERE EXPECTED OR REQUIRED TO CHK THAT PROP SYNC WAS OFF, AS IT IS NOT AN ASTERISKED ITEM. UPON ROTATION, WITH PROPS TO MAX RPM AND PROP SYNC INADVERTENTLY ON, PROP SYNC SYS ACTIVATED. ON THIS ACFT THE #2 PROP ADJUSTS SPD TO SYNC ON #1 PROP (#1 IS MASTER, #2 IS SLAVE). #2 ENG TORQUE BEGAN FLUCTUATION 15-20%. WE IMMEDIATELY DECIDED TO RETURN FOR LNDG. UPON COMPLETION OF FINAL BEFORE-LNDG CHKLIST WE DISCOVERED PROP-SYNC ON. WE TURNED IT OFF AND TORQUE SURGES STOPPED. THE CAPT DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THAT WE HAD DISCOVERED PROB. HE FELT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FAA APPROVED CHKLIST DIDN'T REQUIRE US TO CHK THE PROP-SYNC, THE FAA AND MGMNT WOULD HOLD US RESPONSIBLE. CONSEQUENTLY, OUR MECHS HAD TO TROUBLESHOOT PROB AND REPLACE A PART (WHICH I'M SURE WAS FINE). I WONDER WHO MANY TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND HOW MANY MORE TIME IT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE HAS COURAGE TO COMMUNICATE PROB TO MGMNT AND FAA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.