Learn how to feather a turboprop propeller in Microsoft Flight Simulator, assign the right control, verify feathering and fix common lever problems.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, feather a turboprop with the affected engine’s propeller/RPM lever, not its throttle. Reduce that engine to idle, then move its prop lever fully aft through the low-RPM range into the FEATHER position. If a hardware axis cannot reach the detent, use the cockpit lever or configure an engine-specific propeller control.
Which control actually feathers the propeller?
The propeller or RPM lever is the feathering control; the power and condition levers do different jobs. Feathering turns the blades towards a very coarse angle, almost edge-on to the airflow, so a failed engine’s propeller produces less drag.
| Control | What moving it aft normally does | Does it feather? |
|---|---|---|
| Power or throttle lever | Reduces power, then may enter beta or reverse on the ground | No |
| Propeller or RPM lever | Reduces propeller RPM and enters the feather range at the aft limit | Yes |
| Condition lever | Selects idle settings or cuts off fuel | No, although the propeller may feather after shutdown on some aircraft |
| Autofeather switch | Arms automatic feathering when the aircraft’s trigger conditions are met | Only when properly armed and triggered |
A common mistake is pulling the power lever into beta or reverse and expecting the propeller to feather. Beta changes blade pitch for ground handling; it is not a substitute for the propeller lever’s feather position.
How do I feather a failed turboprop engine?
Use the aircraft’s own emergency checklist because the order of propeller, fuel and electrical actions varies between turboprops. For a typical simulated engine failure, the practical sequence is:
- Identify and verify the failed engine. In a twin, check torque, propeller RPM, gas-generator speed and yaw. Briefly reducing the suspected engine’s power confirms the diagnosis before you feather anything.
- Move the affected power lever to idle. This unloads the propeller before feathering. Do not move a live engine’s propeller lever into feather while substantial power remains applied.
- Pull that engine’s propeller lever fully aft. Continue past the normal low-RPM range into the marked FEATHER position. Some virtual levers have a gate or detent which requires an extra drag or click.
- Shut off fuel when the checklist calls for it. This is usually done with a condition or fuel-control lever. Feathering and fuel shut-off are separate actions even when the simulated aircraft appears to combine their effects.
- Confirm the result. Propeller RPM should fall towards zero, windmilling should slow or stop, and drag and asymmetric yaw should reduce.
Autofeather does not mean every low-power engine will feather automatically. Aircraft-specific systems usually require the feature to be armed and may operate only within particular power and torque conditions.
How do I bind a propeller feather control?
There is no dependable universal feather key across every Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft and control profile. The cockpit lever is the most reliable option, especially when an add-on uses custom systems.
- Open the control settings and select the throttle quadrant, joystick or controller you want to configure.
- Search the full command list for “propeller”. Assign a propeller axis for each engine rather than relying only on increase/decrease commands.
- Use separate engine axes for twins. A combined propeller axis moves both levers, which is convenient normally but cannot feather only the failed engine.
- Check axis direction and travel. Move the physical lever through its full range while watching the cockpit lever. Reverse the axis if necessary and adjust its endpoint so it can reach FEATHER without entering it accidentally.
- Test any dedicated feather command. If one appears in the control list, confirm that the chosen aircraft actually responds to it; custom aircraft may ignore generic simulator commands.
The binding principles are the same in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, although command labels and saved profiles can differ. Our worked example for assigning separate power and propeller axes also covers the hardware conflicts that commonly affect throttle quadrants.
Why won’t the propeller move into feather?
Most feathering failures come from an incorrect axis, insufficient lever travel or an aircraft-specific system overriding the generic command.
- The wrong lever is moving: check that the assignment controls propeller RPM rather than throttle, mixture or condition.
- The axis stops at minimum RPM: its endpoint may not reach the modelled feather zone. Use the mouse-operated cockpit lever as a quick test.
- Both propellers move together: replace the combined propeller assignment with separate engine-specific axes.
- The lever moves by itself: remove duplicate assignments from other controllers and disable any assistance feature that is managing engine controls.
- The cockpit lever moves but the blades do not: the aircraft may use custom feather logic, require a detent to be crossed, or model start locks and a separate ground-shutdown blade position.
- The engine unexpectedly stops: look for a duplicate condition-lever, mixture or fuel-control binding. Our turboprop fuel-control and engine-binding checks cover that related fault.
How can I tell whether the propeller is feathered?
A correctly feathered propeller has very coarse blade pitch, low or zero propeller RPM after shutdown, and much less windmilling drag. In an external view, the blades should present a narrower face to the airflow, although visual animation quality varies between aircraft.
Do not judge feathering from the engine sound alone. A turboprop’s gas generator can continue running while its propeller is feathered, and a failed propeller may take time to stop if the aircraft is moving quickly.
Should I feather during a normal shutdown?
Follow the individual aircraft’s shutdown checklist rather than applying the engine-failure sequence at the parking stand. On many turboprops, cutting off fuel and losing oil pressure moves the propeller towards feather automatically; others model start locks or a different ground position. Forcing the lever aft is only appropriate when the checklist specifies it.