ATR72 captain reports an in-flight engine shutdown with a return to land at atl.

Attributes
ACN	570819
Time
Date	200212
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	570819
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : engine vibration other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

50 DME out of atl (first officer flying), we began to see torque flux on the left engine. We decided to bring the left engine to idle. After talking to maintenance, we placed the left engine in idle and propeller to feather. We did not declare an emergency, which I should have at this time. As we slowed to approach speed, the vibration from the left engine increased. On final, we decided to shut the engine down completely to reduce engine vibrations. Landed with no more events. I should have declared an emergency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATR72 CAPT RPTS AN INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN WITH A RETURN TO LAND AT ATL.

Narrative: 50 DME OUT OF ATL (FO FLYING), WE BEGAN TO SEE TORQUE FLUX ON THE L ENG. WE DECIDED TO BRING THE L ENG TO IDLE. AFTER TALKING TO MAINT, WE PLACED THE L ENG IN IDLE AND PROP TO FEATHER. WE DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE AT THIS TIME. AS WE SLOWED TO APCH SPD, THE VIBRATION FROM THE L ENG INCREASED. ON FINAL, WE DECIDED TO SHUT THE ENG DOWN COMPLETELY TO REDUCE ENG VIBRATIONS. LANDED WITH NO MORE EVENTS. I SHOULD HAVE DECLARED AN EMER.

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.