System and method for detecting failure of a propeller feedback device

A system for detecting failure of a feedback device in an engine system including an engine and a propeller driven by the engine to rotate about an axis, the system comprising:

• a processing unit;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code executable by the processing unit for:
• receiving at least one sensor signal from at least one sensor, the at least one sensor signal produced by the at least one sensor in response to relative movement between the feedback device and the at least one sensor, one of the feedback device and the at least one sensor moving along the axis with adjustment of a blade angle of the propeller, the at least one sensor signal indicative of a rotational speed and of the blade angle of the propeller;
• determining, from the at least one sensor signal, whether the rotational speed of the propeller is within a predetermined range of a reference speed and an expected change in the blade angle of the propeller has occurred in response to a command to adjust the blade angle of the propeller to maintain the rotational speed of the propeller at the reference speed;
• determining a period of time during which the rotational speed of the propeller has been within the predetermined range of the reference speed and the expected change in the bade angle of the propeller has failed to occur, comparing the period of time to a pre-determined duration, and determining that the movement of the one of the feedback device and the at least one sensor along the axis is inoperable in response to determining that the period of time exceeds the pre-determined duration;
• and
• in response to determining, from the at least one sensor signal, that the rotational speed of the propeller is within the predetermined range of the reference speed and the expected change in the blade angle of the propeller has failed to occur in response to the command, outputting an alert.