Emergency declared after small transport atx pilot notes increased turbine temperatures during night...

Attributes
ACN	229549
Time
Date	199212
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mfe
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : isp
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : hrl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3500
ASRS Report	229549
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In cruise flight level at 9000 ft on scheduled freight run between monterey, mexico and harlingen, tx. Power was set to normal cruise of about 1350 ft-pound torque, 700 degrees C itt. During intermittent instrument scan, itt was noticed to have increased uncommanded to 800 degrees C. Power was reduced and itt was still seen to be increasing. I declared an emergency and requested priority handling to mfe. After descent was initiated, itt gauge starting fluctuating between 0 degrees and 800 degrees. I then knew to a reasonable certainty that I was seeing a gauge failure instead of an imminent engine failure. I then continued on about 30 mi further to my original destination, harlingen. A new gauge was installed and verified that the problem was the gauge.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DECLARED AFTER SMT ATX PLT NOTES INCREASED TURBINE TEMPS DURING NIGHT OP.

Narrative: IN CRUISE FLT LEVEL AT 9000 FT ON SCHEDULED FREIGHT RUN BTWN MONTEREY, MEXICO AND HARLINGEN, TX. PWR WAS SET TO NORMAL CRUISE OF ABOUT 1350 FT-LB TORQUE, 700 DEGS C ITT. DURING INTERMITTENT INST SCAN, ITT WAS NOTICED TO HAVE INCREASED UNCOMMANDED TO 800 DEGS C. PWR WAS REDUCED AND ITT WAS STILL SEEN TO BE INCREASING. I DECLARED AN EMER AND REQUESTED PRIORITY HANDLING TO MFE. AFTER DSCNT WAS INITIATED, ITT GAUGE STARTING FLUCTUATING BTWN 0 DEGS AND 800 DEGS. I THEN KNEW TO A REASONABLE CERTAINTY THAT I WAS SEEING A GAUGE FAILURE INSTEAD OF AN IMMINENT ENG FAILURE. I THEN CONTINUED ON ABOUT 30 MI FURTHER TO MY ORIGINAL DEST, HARLINGEN. A NEW GAUGE WAS INSTALLED AND VERIFIED THAT THE PROB WAS THE GAUGE.

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.

Emergency declared after small transport atx pilot notes increased turbine temperatures during night operation.