Small transport pilot has propeller pitch problem. While troubleshooting, enters TCA.

Attributes
ACN	228563
Time
Date	199212
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	228563
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed mccollum airport, atlanta TCA on 260 degree heading to avoid dobbins AFB airspace and atlanta TCA. On reaching 5000 ft to stay under TCA airspace, the left engine propeller suddenly went into flat pitch allowing engine RPM to red line. It did not respond to lower RPM propeller control setting for about 1 min. Then it overreacted and dropped to 2000 RPM. After working with it for a min or so, it finally stabilized at the desired 2300 RPM setting. I then changed course to a heading toward fulton county airport and atlanta airport to use longer runway in the event of an emergency landing if it occurred. I had a similar situation some yrs ago and the windmilling propeller makes single engine performance more critical with no feathered propeller. Since I was not sure of my exact location at this time I contacted atlanta approach to give my VFR 1200 squawk code to be sure he saw me and to get TA and flight watch. I proceed south staying what I thought was far enough out to avoid airport control zone but close enough in the event of an emergency. I did not declare an emergency because the propeller remained stable at 2300 RPM. I proceed to vacate the TCA as quickly as seemed prudent. Atlanta approach then turned me over to columbus for flight watch and I continued on course to florida without further propeller problems. On return to atlanta, I had propeller checked and propeller governor repaired.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT HAS PROP PITCH PROBLEM. WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING, ENTERS TCA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED MCCOLLUM ARPT, ATLANTA TCA ON 260 DEG HDG TO AVOID DOBBINS AFB AIRSPACE AND ATLANTA TCA. ON REACHING 5000 FT TO STAY UNDER TCA AIRSPACE, THE L ENG PROP SUDDENLY WENT INTO FLAT PITCH ALLOWING ENG RPM TO RED LINE. IT DID NOT RESPOND TO LOWER RPM PROP CTL SETTING FOR ABOUT 1 MIN. THEN IT OVERREACTED AND DROPPED TO 2000 RPM. AFTER WORKING WITH IT FOR A MIN OR SO, IT FINALLY STABILIZED AT THE DESIRED 2300 RPM SETTING. I THEN CHANGED COURSE TO A HDG TOWARD FULTON COUNTY ARPT AND ATLANTA ARPT TO USE LONGER RWY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMER LNDG IF IT OCCURRED. I HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION SOME YRS AGO AND THE WINDMILLING PROP MAKES SINGLE ENG PERFORMANCE MORE CRITICAL WITH NO FEATHERED PROP. SINCE I WAS NOT SURE OF MY EXACT LOCATION AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED ATLANTA APCH TO GIVE MY VFR 1200 SQUAWK CODE TO BE SURE HE SAW ME AND TO GET TA AND FLT WATCH. I PROCEED S STAYING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS FAR ENOUGH OUT TO AVOID ARPT CTL ZONE BUT CLOSE ENOUGH IN THE EVENT OF AN EMER. I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER BECAUSE THE PROP REMAINED STABLE AT 2300 RPM. I PROCEED TO VACATE THE TCA AS QUICKLY AS SEEMED PRUDENT. ATLANTA APCH THEN TURNED ME OVER TO COLUMBUS FOR FLT WATCH AND I CONTINUED ON COURSE TO FLORIDA WITHOUT FURTHER PROP PROBLEMS. ON RETURN TO ATLANTA, I HAD PROP CHKED AND PROP GOVERNOR REPAIRED.

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.