N270AS

THE LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT AS A RESULT OF A MALFUNCTION OF THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER CONTROL UNIT WHICH ALLOWED THE PROPELLER BLADE ANGLES TO GO BELOW THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DEFICIENT DESIGN OF THE PROPELLER CONTROL UNIT BY HAMILTON STANDARD AND THE APPROVAL OF THE DESIGN BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. THE DESIGN DID NOT CORRECTLY EVALUATE THE FAILURE MODE THAT OCCURRED DURING THIS FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCOMMANDED AND UNCORRECTABLE MOVEMENT OF THE BLADES OF THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT PROPELLER BELOW THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION. (NTSB REPORT AAR-92/03)