Single pilot operation shuts one engine down and leaves the cockpit.

Attributes
ACN	167505
Time
Date	199101
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tal
State Reference	AK
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2800
ASRS Report	167505
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During a stop off while on a 135 scheduled operation carrying passengers, I shut the left engine down leaving the right at idle and the cabin heat on. OAT was approximately 30 degree F. The parking brake was tested and set while I exited the cockpit to escort passengers in and out the left cabin door and load baggage. The cockpit was unattended. This procedure is not prohibited in the company operation manual. The company chief pilot recommended this cold WX practice during a 135.244 route chkride. Reflecting back on this operation, it could be construed as a violation of FARS, possibly careless and/or reckless. I would recommend discussion between company operations personnel and local FSDO to ascertain propriety of practice, and include it in company training and operations manual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SINGLE PLT OPERATION SHUTS ONE ENGINE DOWN AND LEAVES THE COCKPIT.

Narrative: DURING A STOP OFF WHILE ON A 135 SCHEDULED OPERATION CARRYING PAXS, I SHUT THE L ENG DOWN LEAVING THE R AT IDLE AND THE CABIN HEAT ON. OAT WAS APPROX 30 DEG F. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS TESTED AND SET WHILE I EXITED THE COCKPIT TO ESCORT PAXS IN AND OUT THE L CABIN DOOR AND LOAD BAGGAGE. THE COCKPIT WAS UNATTENDED. THIS PROC IS NOT PROHIBITED IN THE COMPANY OPERATION MANUAL. THE COMPANY CHIEF PLT RECOMMENDED THIS COLD WX PRACTICE DURING A 135.244 RTE CHKRIDE. REFLECTING BACK ON THIS OPERATION, IT COULD BE CONSTRUED AS A VIOLATION OF FARS, POSSIBLY CARELESS AND/OR RECKLESS. I WOULD RECOMMEND DISCUSSION BTWN COMPANY OPS PERSONNEL AND LCL FSDO TO ASCERTAIN PROPRIETY OF PRACTICE, AND INCLUDE IT IN COMPANY TRNING AND OPS MANUAL.

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.