Autofeather

Autofeather is a feature of the engines on some turboprop or piston engine aircraft. When the power being produced by the engine drops to the point where it is not contributing to thrust, the propeller will go into a feathered mode to reduce drag.

The auto feather system also allows pilots to reduce the drag of the propellers during an engine failure, therefore, allowing the plane to glide for a longer period of time.

An automatic feathering system was first introduced on the Martin 4-0-4 aircraft, a piston engine airplane. The system was designed to automatically feather an engine that failed during takeoff or initial climb.

Aircraft piston engine components, systems and terminology

Piston engines

Mechanical components	Camshaft Connecting rod Crankpin Crankshaft Cylinder Cylinder head Gudgeon pin Hydraulic tappet Main bearing Obturator ring Oil pump Piston Piston ring Poppet valve Pushrod Rocker arm Sleeve valve Tappet

Electrical components	Alternator Capacitor discharge ignition Dual ignition Electronic fuel injection Generator Ignition system Magneto Spark plug Starter

Terminology	Air-cooled Aircraft engine starting Bore Compression ratio Dead centre Engine displacement Four-stroke engine Horsepower Ignition timing Manifold pressure Mean effective pressure Naturally aspirated Monosoupape Overhead camshaft Overhead valve engine Rotary engine Shock cooling Stroke Time between overhaul Two-stroke engine Valve timing Volumetric efficiency

Propellers

Components	Propeller governor Propeller speed reduction unit Spinner

Terminology	Autofeather Blade pitch Constant-speed Contra-rotating Counter-rotating Scimitar Single-blade Variable-pitch

Engine instruments

Engine controls

Fuel and induction
system

Other systems

Aircraft gas turbine engine components, systems and terminology

Gas turbines

Types	Propfan Turbofan Turbojet Turboprop Turboshaft

Mechanical components	Accessory drive Afterburner (reheat) Axial compressor Centrifugal compressor Combustor Constant speed drive Propelling nozzle Turbine blade

Terminology	Aircraft engine starting Bypass ratio Compressor stall Engine pressure ratio (EPR) Flameout Windmill restart

Propellers

Components	Propeller governor Propeller speed reduction unit

Terminology	Autofeather Blade pitch Constant-speed Contra-rotating Counter-rotating Proprotor Scimitar Variable-pitch

Engine
instruments

Engine controls

Fuel and induction
systems

Jet fuel

Other systems

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