A DA42 PILOT EXPERIENCED LEFT ENGINE SURGING AND LATER COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE ON THE GROUND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION.

Narrative

WHILE AT CRUISE ALT (5000 FT MSL) ENRTE; THE L ENG BEGAN TO SURGE REPEATEDLY. THIS CONTINUED FOR APPROX 5-7 MINS; AT WHICH POINT THE PIC ELECTED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ. THE PIC WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT APCH CTL AND WAS VECTORED FOR THE ILS APCH AT ZZZ. DURING THE APCH; AND NEAR THE VICINITY OF THE FAF; THE L ENG FAILED COMPLETELY. THE AUTOFEATHER SYSTEM WORKED AS DESIGNED AND FEATHERED THE L PROP. THE PIC EXECUTED THE IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS FOR AN ENG FAILURE AND CONTINUED THE APCH. THE LNDG WAS SAFELY ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. UPON LNDG ROLLOUT; THE PIC NOTED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AUTH TO EXECUTE A R-HAND TURN INTO THE OPERATING ENG TO CLEAR THE ACTIVE RWY. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED (UNSUCCESSFUL) ATTEMPTS TO TURN R; THE PIC ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE L ENG. THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. THE PIC SUBSEQUENTLY EXITED THE ACTIVE RWY AND TAXIED TO THE FBO. THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND SUBSEQUENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AT THE DIAMOND SVC CENTER.