Linked

The pilot could not pull the right engines condition lever into the fuel cutoff position; the firewall shutoff was used to shut down the engine. Inspection revealed the linkage between the power lever and the condition lever on the fuel control unit was corroded and the linkage jammed with residue. The linkage was cleaned and lubricated, and the aircraft returned to service.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Numerous incidents involve critical aircraft control systems failing due to faulty or obstructed mechanical linkages.
Causes of these failures are varied, including corrosion, jamming, foreign object obstruction (e.g., a pen cap), breakage, improper installation, misadjustment, and missing securing hardware like cotter pins.
Such linkage problems significantly impair a pilot's ability to control the aircraft, affecting engine power management, mixture control, emergency shutdown, and landing gear operation.

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Beechcraft Model 200 King Air

Binding Fuel Control Unit Linkage

The pilot could not pull the right engine’s condition lever into the fuel cutoff position; the firewall shutoff was used to shut down the engine. Inspection revealed the linkage between the power lever and the condition lever on the fuel control unit was corroded and the linkage jammed with residue. The linkage was cleaned and lubricated, and the aircraft returned to service.