Counterweighted propeller control system

A system for controlling functions of a propeller having a plurality of blades, comprising:

• electronic control means for controlling said functions of said propeller;
• a plurality of backup means for backing up said electronic control means upon the occurrence of a condition including at least one of testing, manual override, and a malfunction in said electronic control means;
• means for bypassing said electronic control upon the occurrence of said condition and for invoking at least one of said plurality of backup means to acquire control over at least one of said functions;
• and
• means for actuating said means for bypassing upon the sensing of at least one of the conditions, wherein said at least one of said functions is blade angle of said blades, further including means for measuring values of said blade angle and communicating said values to said electronic control means, wherein if said values are determined to be incompatible with flight requirements, said at least one of said plurality of backup means is invoked, wherein said blades of said propeller have in-flight blade angles including a minimum in-flight blade angle and a desired in-flight blade angle, wherein one of said conditions comprises said in-flight blade angle falling below said minimum blade angle, wherein said at least one of said plurality of backup means comprises a low pitch stop mechanism for stopping said blade angle from falling further below said minimum blade angle and for returning said blade angle to said desired in flight blade angle, and wherein said electronic control means includes means for reversing said blades and for testing said low pitch stop mechanism.