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Introduction
All turbine engines are basically the same. The difference between engines lies
in their method of converting turbine energy into useable thrust. Three common
methods of conversion are: Turbojet, Turboprop and Turbofan. These terms are
abbreviated TJE, TPE and TFE. These three abbreviations are used to signify
the model designation of these various Garrett engines.

All Turbine engines are basically the same except for the method used to
convert high speed turbine energy into useable thrust to move the aircraft.
• Turbojet – TJE
• Turboprop – TPE
• Turbofan – TFE

We can apply Newton’s Law to the

amount of air moving through an engine
and arrive at the following conclusion.
Thrust is a function of how much air is
moved by the engine per second and
how much the velocity changes.

Figure 1: Thrust Function Illustration

Most of the power of the turboprop

engine, shown here, is converted by a
gearbox to drive a propeller.
The propeller moves a large mass at a
1ow velocity change. The turboprop
application is utilized on aircraft which
fly at lower altitudes and require better
short field capabilities.

Figure 2: Basic Turboprop described in illustration

TPE 331 Introduction
The TPE331 engine is a turboprop engine originally designed in the 1960s
by Garrett AiResearch, and produced since 1999 by Honeywell Aerospace, after
AlliedSignal acquired Honeywell, keeping the Honeywell name. It has an
additional turbine stage on the same shaft as the compressor and the gas
generator turbines. This shaft, which is coupled to a 26:1 reduction gear system
that reduces the low-torque 41,730 RPM turbine speed to a high-torque 1,591
RPM at the propeller shaft, has excess energy beyond that needed to drive the
compressor.

TPE 331 Descriptions

• 575 to 1650 Horsepower class Turboprop engine.
• Single shaft cycle with Integral Gearbox
• Two stage centrifugal Compressor.
• Tree stage axial turbine.
• Single annular combustion chamber
And as result of the single shaft cycle – power response is instantaneous.

Figure 3: Honeywell TPE331-14 Turboprop engine

 Figure 4: TPE331 Illustration in cutaway view

TPE331 Identification
Example: TPE331-10U-501G
Each engine will have a nameplate attached to the gearbox. In order to properly
identify each engine, it will be necessary for understanding above designation
example.
TPE. As it is already known, stands for turboprop engine. 331 is a series
indicator assigned by the manufacturer. The -10 identifies the power in
accordance with shaft horse power, class as certified by FAA. The letter “U”
appears in the model number, the inlet will be on the bottom. This depends on
the individual aircraft installation. The -501 is an indication of the engine
configuration, that is, the specific location and configuration of components.
Finally, the “G” is used to identify the aircraft installation. In this example, the
“G” is the Swearingen Aircraft Company.

TPE331 Applications
TPE331 is applicable used for these aircrafts.

• Aero/Rockwell Turbo Commander 680/690/840/980/1000

• Antonov An-2
• Antonov An-38
• Ayres Thrush
• BAe Jetstream 31/32
• British Aerospace Jetstream 41
• Beech B100 King Air
• CASA C-212 Aviocar
• Cessna 441 Conquest II
• Comp Air 9
• Conroy Stolifter Figure 5: Cessna 441 Conquest II
• Dornier Do 228
• Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
• General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
• Grob G 520
• HAL HTT-40
• Kestrel K-350
• Mitsubishi MU-2
• North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
• Pilatus/Fairchild PC-6C Turbo-Porter
• Piper Cheyenne 400
Figure 6: Mitsubishi MU-2
• Short SC.7 Skyvan
• Short Tucano
• Swearingen Merlin

They are also fitted with TPE-331s as a replacement for their original engines.

• Beechcraft Model 18
• Cessna 208 Caravan
• Cessna 337 Skymaster
• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
• de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
• de Havilland DH.104 Dove
• FMA IA 58 Pucará
• Grumman Ag Cat
• Grumman S-2 Tracker
• Marsh S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker
• Handley Page Jetstream
• PAC Fletcher
Main System Components
In order to understand the propeller control system, it is helpful to be familiar
with the components within the system.

- Propeller Pitch Control – is mounted on the rear of the gear reduction

case in line with the propeller drive. The propeller pitch control is
composed of an oil metering ported sleeve that is positioned by a cam
within the propeller pitch control, which is connected to the power lever.
The control end of the oil-transfer tube also has metering ports and rides
inside the ported sleeve. In beta mode the propeller pitch control provides
for pilot control of propeller blade pitch angle. Pilot control is
accomplished by manually positioning the propeller pitch-control cam,
through movement of the power lever, aligning the metering ports of the
ported sleeve and the oil transfer tube.

Figure 7: Propeller Pitch Control Illustration

Figure 8: Propeller Pitch Control Exploded

view
 In Alpha mode, the Propeller Pitch Control and beta tube serve only as an
oil passage to the propeller cylinder area.
In Beta mode, to meter the oil from the propeller governor pump into the
propeller through the beta tube.

Figure 9: Propeller Pitch control connected with beta tube

- Propeller Governor – is mounted on the gear reduction assembly

controlled by condition lever. The propeller governor is to meter the
propeller oil as a function of rpm in normal flight range. (or higher than
2,000 RPM). Below 2,000 RPM the propeller governor is Underspeed
condition and serves only to provide oil to the propeller pitch control.

Figure 10: Propeller Governor Illustration

 Figure 10: Parts of Propeller Governor

Figure 11: Propeller Governor Illustration in half section view

- Underspeed Governor – Which is part of the fuel control unit connected
with fuel acceleration system, is used to control system RPM when the
propeller is being driven at less than 2,000 RPM. (Underspeed condition ,
this one is used for control system RPM instead of propeller governor)
The underspeed governor is operated by the condition lever and controls
fuel flow to the engine maintain a selected RPM.

Figure 12: Relationship schematic between fuel acceleration system

and underspeed governor

Figure 13: USG (Underspeed Governor) in FCU (Fuel Control Unit)

Feathering Valve – is actuated automatically by the negative torque system oil
pressure or manually by the manual feather control or condition lever from the
cockpit. This oil pressure will cause the piston in the feather valve to be moved,
blocking the oil from the governor and it release all oil propeller allowing the
springs and counterweights to feather the propeller.

Figure 14: Feather valve in cutaway view

Figure 15: Feather valve

Electrical Unfeathering Pump – is used to supply oil pressure to unfeather the

propeller.

Figure 16: Unfeathering Pump with other components in

TPE331 propeller system

Figure 17: Unfeathering Pump

If all components are combined in the system. It will be shown as the figure 18
and figure 19 below.
Figure 18: TPE331 Propeller Control System
Figure 19: TPE331 Propeller Control System
Cockpit Control
In accordance with TPE331 propeller systems, there are four cockpit controls
installation related in propeller control.
• Power lever included with finger latch
• Condition lever (also called “RPM lever” or “Speed lever”)
• Feather handle
• Unfeathering Switch

- Power lever – is used to control system horsepower. It is located in

quadrant slots on the left side of the center pedestal located closest to the
pilot seat. When the aircraft is in ground operations, the power lever
controls the propeller blade angle by positioning the propeller pitch
control. When the aircraft is in flight operations, the power lever directly
controls fuel flow to the engine through the engine fuel control unit
(FCU). The power lever is circled as shown in figure 20.

- Finger latch – is used to prevent reverse thrust being accidentally applied

by acting as obstacle rearward movement of power lever. It is located in
each power lever slot. The power lever must be pulled up to allow
movement of the power levers rearward of the flight IDLE position.
Finger latch is shown by arrow pointing as shown in figure 20.

Figure 20: Cessna441 Conquest Cockpit Control

- Condition lever – is used to control system RPM and located in quadrant

slots on the right side of the center pedestal. During ground operation the
 condition lever adjusts the underspeed governor on the fuel control unit to
vary the fuel flow and maintain a fixed RPM as the blade angle is
changed by the power lever. During flight operations the condition lever
sets the propeller governor to maintain system RPM by varying the blade
angles when the engine power is changed with the power lever or when
flight operations change. The condition lever is circled as shown in figure
21.

Figure 21: Cessna441 Conquest Cockpit Control (2)

- Feather handle – is in the cockpit and connected to the feathering valve

on the engine. When the feathering valve is moved by the handle, oil is
released from the propeller and the propeller feathers. On some aircraft
connect the feathering valve to the condition lever such that full aft
movement to feather the propeller instead of feather handle. The feather
handle as shown in figure 22.

- Unfeathering Switch – is located on the cockpit and used to control the

electric unfeathering pump to unfeather the propeller. The unfeathering
switch is circled as shown in figure 23.

The main components of propeller system is connected with cockpit controls

through the cable/electrical linkages as shown in figure 24 and figure 25.
Figure 22: Phoenix U-15 Cockpit Control

Figure 23: Unfeathering/Feathering button

Figure 24: System components connected with cockpit control

Figure 25: System components connected with cockpit control (2)

System Components Operations
The propeller operations can be divided into four main operations.
• Alpha mode
- Underspeed
- Overspeed
- On speed
• Beta mode
- Forward
- Reverse
• Feathering
- Automatic
- Manual
• Unfeathering
Before introducing the operations, it is necessary to understand in propeller used
on TPE331, some
components functions,
and cockpit controls in-
depth.

Figure 26: Basic diagram of power management

The figure 26 is shown that the propeller controlled by two

separate levers, one connected to a propeller pitch control and one connected to
the manual fuel valve in the fuel control. Assume that the pitch lever was
moved to a position to select some given blade angle. If additional fuel
increases power while carrying the same load, the RPM also increase and vice
versa. If the operator of this fictitious engine were skillful enough, it is
conceivable that he/she could advance both levers causing an increase propeller
pitch to absorb the
increased power while
maintaining the same
RPM.

Figure 27: Power lever cams

The power lever has two cams could be designed into the manual fuel
valve (MFV) in the fuel control and the propeller pitch control (PPC). Both
cams is connected to one power lever. If the power lever is moved from one
position to another, it provides the desired signal to the fuel and propeller pitch
control. Assume that the power lever is at the flight idle detent. As the power
lever is advanced forward of flight, the design of the propeller pitch control
holding the propeller at a fixed blade angle momentarily. At the same time, the
cam in fuel control would cause an increase in fuel, with the same load, but an
increase in fuel producing extra power, RPM would increase.
 Figure 28: Speed control lever

The speed lever (condition lever) is connected to the underspeed

governor in the fuel control and the propeller governor in the propeller control
system. If the operator advances the speed lever to high rpm position, the
mechanical linkage from that lever will calibrate the underspeed governor. The
underspeed governor will cause additional fuel to enter the engine and also take
control of the propeller and cause a blade increase to hold the rpm by increasing
load. From this point on throughout the flight, the power lever is controlling
fuel. The propeller is being controlled by the propeller governor at the rpm set
up by the position of speed lever. This is called “Propeller Governing Mode”
Assume now that the aircraft has landed. The pilot has brought
the power lever back to reduce fuel. When the point is reached where the fuel is
no longer capable of maintaining RPM calibrated in the propeller governor, the
rpm will drop until it reaches the setting of the underspeed governor. At this
point, the pilot is controlling the position of the propeller by the power lever
movement of the propeller pitch control. The speed of the engine is a function
of the underspeed governor providing adequate fuel to prevent the engine speed
from dropping below the setting represented by the speed lever position.
 Figure 29: levers position in governing mode

Power lever has been moved forward for flight idle, as shown in
figure 29. The connection of the power lever to the manual fuel valve permits
control of increasing or decreasing amounts of fuel to the engine. The increasing
fuel condition will drive engine RPM up into the range of the propeller
governor. The sped lever (Condition lever) will select the calibration point of
propeller governor desired by the pilot.

Figure 30: levers position in beta mode

 When the pilot desires to control propeller blade angle to regulate
the direction of thrust on the ground, the power lever is brought behind flight
idle detent. From flight idle back to reverse, the pilot is controlling the blade
angle all the way from a positive flight idle blade back to preset negative pitch
angle.
Retarding the power lever behind the flight idle detent also reduces
the fuel that is had been providing via the manual fuel control. So the rpm drops
below propeller governor authority and the fuel is now a function of the
underspeed governor as calibrated by the position of the speed lever (Condition
lever).

Figure 31: Linkage Interconnection

It is necessary for each lever to have connections with both fuel and
propeller governing components. Figure 31 illustrates the power lever
connections to two devices, the manual fuel valve in the fuel control and the
propeller pitch control. Also shown are the speed lever (Condition lever)
connections to a propeller controlling governor and fuel controlling underspeed
governor. Each linkages are used in different desired operating mode.
 Figure 32: Single-Acting Propeller Illustration

The major components of a typical single propeller are piston, spring,

and propeller flyweights. The piston operates in conjunction with a cylinder that
is bolted to the propeller shaft. Figure 32 indicates a large heavy spring within
the piston and cylinder arrangement. It also reveals, at the blade connection to
the propeller, a flyweight attached to the hub of the propeller blade. To the right,
It can be seen an entry of oil pressure made available to the piston and cylinder
area within the propeller.
The heavy spring within the propeller tends to move the propeller
blade into high pitch angle. This force is assisted by the centrifugal force action
on the flyweight attached to the blade. If it has no force to oppose these forces,
the propeller will go to a feathered position. If high oil pressure is being
introduced into the piston and cylinder forcing the cylinder to extend to the left.
The blade will rotate toward a low pitch angle. Whenever the spring plus
flyweights force is equaled by the oil pressure times the piston area, the
propeller blade angle will stay at that given position.
 Figure 33: Start locks illustration and its description

The propeller must be held at a very low blade angle in order for
the engine to be started satisfactorily. This low blade angle reduces the load
requirement on the starter and allows easier engine acceleration to governed
operation. If a start is attempted with feathered position, excessive load will
result in high temperature in turbine section.
Figure 33 shows the major components of the start lock system. A
plate is attached to the hub section of the propeller blade. The start lock pin is in
a pin spring housing and, in this illustration, the pin is being held against the
plate by the spring within the housing. Each blade on the propeller has the same
arrangement of the start lock pin in its housing and a plate attached to the hub of
the blade.
To put the propeller on the start locks, the power lever is placed in
the reverse position and the unfeathering pump toggle is turned on. This
supplies oil pressure to the propeller, causing it to rotate to the full reverse
position. In the process of moving to reverse, the plates on the hub of the
propeller blade will rotate past start lock position and the pins will be extended.
Once the propeller reaches full reverse, the unfeathering pump is turned off and
the power lever returned to the flight idle position.
 The heavy feather spring in piston is trying to take the propeller to
rotate towards a high angle, or feathered position. This force is reflected in a
shear load on the side of the pin that keeps the lock engaged even during the
engine starting and acceleration procedures. When the end of the plate contracts
the pin, the limit of travel is reached. This position would hold the blade angle
at one to two degrees positive blade angle and would represent a very light load
on the engine.

After the engine has been accelerated to governed speed, the propeller may be
taken off the locks by merely moving the power lever towards the reverse
position. This can be done at any speed, but most aircraft manufacturers will
recommend in the Pilot's Operating Handbook that the speed lever be advanced
to above 85 per cent rpm before attempting to take the propeller off the locks.
This assures adequate oil pressure which, of course, is a function of the speed of
the pumps.
The oil pressure in the propeller will move the blades toward reverse,
removing the shear load that has been applied by the feather spring. As soon as
the shear load is removed, centrifugal force acting on the mass of the start lock
pin will overcome the small spring in the start lock housing and retract the pin.
This centrifugal force will be sufficiently strong to hold the pin in the
retracted position under all engine operating conditions.
 Figure 34: Propeller Governor full section view

Figure 35: Propeller Governor Schematic

In the propeller governing mode, the propeller governor is

controlling, or metering, the oil pressure to maintain just the right amount of oil
in the propeller to cause the blade angle to load the engine and hold it at the
RPM selected. The propeller pitch control in this case acts as nothing more than
part of plumbing. It furnishes a way to get the oil in and out of the propeller.
 The propeller governor utilizes a standard flyweight, spring and
metering valve operation. The control shaft on the top of the governor is
connected to the speed lever. In response to speed lever movement, the speeder
spring will be adjusted. Since the main shaft of the governor is attached to, and
driven by, the engine accessory section, engine rotation will result in rotation of
governor flyweights.
As the speed increases which is leading to overspeed, centrifugal
action causes these flyweights to move out, opposing the force of the speeder
spring. When the flyweight force and speeder spring force are balanced, if will
result in the positioning of a metering valve to limit the correct amount of oil
pressure to the propeller hold that rpm.
As the speed decreases which is leading to underspeed, centrifugal
action causes these flyweights to move inward, to conform the force of the
speeder spring. When the flyweight force and speeder spring force are balanced,
if will result in the positioning of a metering valve to limit the correct amount of
oil pressure to the propeller hold that rpm.
Reset piston and reset valve are incorporated when engine is operating
in below flight idle range. In that range, reset piston sends oil from the
governing and reset valve is
set to open to allow oil into
the beta tube.

Figure 36: Propeller Governor Mode

 The function of the propeller pitch control in the beta mode is to meter
the oil from the propeller governor pump into the propeller through the beta
tube. This metering takes place at the point indicate in the figure. Remember
that a propeller governor meters oil to the prop as a function of RPM in
specified range only. Therefore, a separate pitch control is necessary to obtain a
negative blade angle.

As the arrow notes, the power lever is in a reverse position. The cam
has been moved in the propeller pitch control to the position shown. Propeller
governor high pressure oil is available to the propeller pitch control as indicated
by the arrow on the top right side. The same pressure is extended into the inside
of the follower sleeve and through holes within the beta tube.
The beta tube acting as an oil transfer tube carries the oil pressure to
the left into the piston area of the propeller. The increase in oil pressure will
cause the propeller piston to move to the left and rotate blades toward a low
pitch angle limited by the propeller internal reverse stop.
Notice that the left end of the beta tube is a threaded connection
attached to the piston of the propeller. As the high oil pressure causes the piston
to move left, it would then pull the beta tube is attached to the propeller, if
rotates with the propeller. The propeller pitch control does not rotate.

If a blade position short of the internal reverse stop has been selected.
As high oil pressure moves the propeller piston to the left, the beta tube also
moves, since it is attached to the piston by threads. As the beta tube moves left,
a point is eventually reached where the hole in the beta tube approaches the seal
bushing in the follower sleeve.
When the metered oil pressure is reduced to the level where oil
pressure times the effective area of the piston equals the flyweight and spring
force, the propeller will stay at a balanced condition.
 If the power lever has been moved forward. Due to the mechanical
linkage between the power lever and the cam, the cam will rotate and move the
follower sleeve to the right. This action uncovers the holes in the beta tubeand
the oil pressure in the propeller piston area drains into the case through the
uncovered port in the beta tube. Loss of that oil pressure allows the heavy
springs and the flyweights to move the propeller piston to a retracted position,
towards the right. This, in turn, takes the blades toward a positie blade angle.
The propeller will continue to move untile the holes in the beta tube
line up with the follower sleeve seal bushing in the propeller pitch control. And
again, the oil will be metered to just the right amount to thold the propeller in
the selected position.
 Figure 3: Underspeed Governor in FCU

It is a flyweight type mechanical governor in the fuel control system. It

is almost used on beta mode. The flyweights are mounted on a gear driven by
the shaft of the fuel assembly. As the gear increases to specified speed during
acceleration (too high RPM sensing from speed lever) or propeller blade is
being decreased, the flyweights tend to move outward lifting against the bearing
and a thrust washer. As the acceleration system was dropping to specified speed
(too low RPM sensing from speed lever) or propeller blade is being increased,
the acceleration cage allowing the metering valve to open.

Underspeed governor in the fuel control is used to stop the

acceleration when rpm reaches the point, the point that the governor will begin
to reduce the fuel so that ultimately providing the necessary amount of fuel to
carry the propeller load at the rpm that the operator has requested.

Negative torque example situation : If the engine power levers are reduced to
flight idle on a shaft driven installation, the blade pitch of a constant speed
propeller will reduce towards minimum blade angle in an afford to maintain
RPM. If the air speed is high, the minimum blade angle may not be fine enough
to maintain the governed propeller RPM and the air load will begin to drive the
propeller causing activation NTS system. Negative torque is said to occur when
conditions are such that air loading on a propeller causes it to drive the engine
to which it is attached vice the normal condition in which engine drives the
propeller.

The NTS system is an automatic drag reduction system that will

automatically reduce the drag created by a propeller on a dead engine. Within
the torque sensor, it has a pilot valve able to move back and forth, depending
upon the torque being sensed by the torque sensor device. The arrow below the
torque sensor indicated that the pilot valve would move toward the right when
positive torque is being felt, and would move towards the left as a result of
sensing negative torque.
When the pilot valve moves to the left, and restricts the flow of oil
out of that system, the pressure at the end of the feather valve will build up
rapidly. That pressure will cause the internal mechanism of the feather valve to
move to the right, shutting off the oil coming from the propeller governor and
allowing the oil that’s in the propeller to drain back through the feather valve
and vent to the case of the engine. Removing the oil from the propeller would
start the blades towards the feathered position.
As the propeller blades were streamlining into the air, the torque
sensor would sense less negative torque and move the pilot valve back towards
the right position. Uncovering the port allows the oil being felt at the end of the
feather valve to drain into the case. The feather valve is spring loaded to reseat,
allowing the oil from the governor to go to the propeller and start driving the
propeller back towards the lower blade angle. As the propeller blade angle
moves toward the lower pitch position, the torque sensor again would sense an
increase in negative torque and the cycle would be repeated.
But in some of the newer aircraft, an interesting situation has
developed with regard to the NTS system. As the aircraft is landing, the pilot
will pull the power lever back to reduce the power and go into beta mode of
operation. The bigger and heavier propellers tend to overrun, much like a
flywheel. It is at that instant where a situation of negative torque could occur.
This obviously is not desirable at this point in landing. The pilot does not want a
propeller to NTS and reduce drag. He or She wants to take control of the
propeller and deliberately create drag to brake the aircraft. Newer engine
includes a system to lock out the NTS system during this reverse action.
 When the NTS sending oil pressure to left of feather valve or
manually controlled by manual feather lever (or full aft movement of condition
lever) are accomplished. From the figure, the feather valve move to the right
preventing the propeller governor oil flow to the propeller oil control passage
and drain all oil supplied from the propeller to the case.

Propeller used and their description

The propeller commonly used on the TPE-331 is a hydraulic, single-acting,
and reversing propeller that is three- or four- blades Hartzell Steel Hub
reversing propeller with aluminum blades.
 The -5 models is a constant-speed, feathering and reversible propeller
designed for use with the Garrett-AiResearch TPE331. The cylinder is movable
to outward and inward. There are 3 coaxial springs (Feathering-spring). The
Beta tube is attached to the propeller cylinder and moved along the cylinder
movement.
System Components Operations

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ALPHA MODE
Notice that: When unfeathering is
being occurred during engine shut
down, NTS light and Beta Mode Unfeathering
light will be illuminated because
1. Propeller blade pitch is not
under controlled by propeller
governor high pressure oil.
2. From the state mentioned
above. If changing feathering
blade to propeller blade low
pitch is happened suddenly,
Negative torque will be
occurred on the engine.
 Actuated by reset piston in propeller governor and reset valve in propeller pitch
BETA MODE: REVERSE control let the oil directly
from GV to PPC

Beta light is on.

 Actuated by reset piston in propeller governor and reset valve in propeller pitch
BETA MODE: FORWARD control let the oil directly
from GV to PPC

Beta light is on.