If you spin a prop without a governor, the mechanical forces will drive it to flat pitch. That means that there must be a force applied to drive the prop back to coarse pitch. This is typically done by using oil pressure to drive pistons that move the prop. Of course, when the engine stops, the oil pressure goes away, and the prop spins to flat pitch if it is windmilling.

 

Ted,

 

Then plan on it and accept the lousy high rate of descent.  Make your actions following an engine out appropriate to the worse case.  Accept it.

 

This means that any fancy glide range gear you are depending on should be set for the worse case.

 

Me, I have explosive bolts to release the prop so that the damn thing doesn't get in the way.

 

Hmmmm...... at idle rpm - 700 or so- I have oil pressure from the gear driven oil pump, albeit lower than cruise.  If I remember correctly, my governor is gear driven to increase oil pressure to the prop - next time I will pull back the prop and see if it goes to coarse pitch while at idle rpm (I know it does at 1800 rpm).  Thus, if windmilling is below idle rpm the worse case you suggest could exist.

 

 Where are the real test pilots out there (not me, baby!) that have actually lost their engine and pulled the prop to coarse pitch and remember the descent rate while they were saving their a$$?

 

BTW, Whilst flying a test in my Skymaster (Continental engs, McCauley props), I did kill the front engine - incredible drag until the prop was feathered (and it did feather while windmilling) - I left the rear running at the book zero thrust value.  Too bad I can't do that in my wee Lancair.

 

Geez - I love this.  Wimpy and sparce unsigned posts for the last two weeks and finally something to get the blood flowing and mental gears rotating.  I know there are many lurkers out there - so step up.  This stuff is important - even if it just gets you to think about these conditions -- even if your personal aircraft research causes you to reach a different conclusion than any of those postulated.