What Causes A Fault Code 237 On A TFE731 Engine Start Up?

November 2025

It is not uncommon for me to receive a phone call from an operator flying with a TFE731 engine asking me to review their engine downloads. After several flights, the engine computer light begins to flash, and the only fault they can see is fault code 237, ECTM Buffer Filled. They want to know why they are getting this. In all cases, after reviewing the engine downloads, I found that each had an uncommanded engine shutdown logged. This triggers an event record, which in turn causes the engine computer light to flash.

An uncommanded engine shutdown occurs during engine start when the throttle is brought out of cutoff, advanced past the idle position, and then back again. This results in the uncommanded engine shutdown being recorded in the DEEC, triggering the computer light to flash. To prevent an unnecessary engine download, cautiously bring the throttle from cutoff to idle without advancing it past idle.

This is quoted from SIL F731-90, the N1 DEEC

The N1 DEEC may incorrectly detect an uncommanded engine shutdown. This occurs during engine start when the PLA is advanced above idle when moving the PLA out of cutoff to introduce fuel flow and remove slack from the PLA linkage. When an uncommanded engine shutdown is detected, an event is recorded by the ECTM logic and results in flashing of the DEEC cockpit light indicating a download is required. This can be avoided by not advancing the PLA above idle during engine start.