Thanks to all for your thoughts and inputs. If you haven't figured it out....not so hypothetical. Also, not my crew or aircraft...
Don't know the whole story, but they didn't ESP it prior to their landing.
The prop was topped off, a static feather check performed and then subsequently signed off. AC still refused to take it and ended up driving the crew home in a rental van. Plane was subsequently flown back to home station (by a different crew) and hasn't flown since. Still waiting to see if MX decides to do a prop change on it.
I can definitely appreciate the difference in considerations when dealing with training and combat. I'm sure that I would have made the same decision had I signed for the jet, considering that it was only training sortie and considering the proximity to our home station. Iraq or Afghanistan sleeping in the Herky Hilton at a dirt LZ faced with the same situation...possibly a different decision.
The T.O. you mentioned also came up during our discussions around the unit. How can I get a copy of this? My understanding is that it has never been rescinded...Any help on this would be appreciated.
Thanks again.