Flames observed by ATC and other aircraft flight crew coming from #3 engine during start. No apparen...

Attributes
ACN	114581
Time
Date	198906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80
ASRS Report	114581
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

(Minor tail pipe fire on start.) during taxi out for takeoff (on taxiway rb near runway 8L) we attempted to start #3 engine. While below maximum start tgt (turbine gas temperature), we were advised by another aircraft and ATC of flames coming out the rear of #3 engine. We stopped the aircraft, to secure the problem. (Emergency equipment was called by ground control.) we aborted the start, shutting off fuel and motored the engine until the flames were out and tgt below 100 degree C according to procedures. We asked the fire department to confirm the fire was out, and taxied back to the ramp for inspection of damage, by air carrier maintenance. Everything checked good, and another start was made. All cockpit indications, as well as visually by maintenance, checked out normal. We released the fire truck and continued our taxi for takeoff. Passenger evacuate/evacuation was not necessary, and after evaluating the problem it appeared to be a minor tail pipe fire, as the engine operated normally for remainder of flight. All abnormal procedures were followed regarding engine start and communicating with passenger, etc.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLAMES OBSERVED BY ATC AND OTHER ACFT FLT CREW COMING FROM #3 ENGINE DURING START. NO APPARENT COCKPIT INDICATIONS.

Narrative: (MINOR TAIL PIPE FIRE ON START.) DURING TAXI OUT FOR TKOF (ON TXWY RB NEAR RWY 8L) WE ATTEMPTED TO START #3 ENGINE. WHILE BELOW MAX START TGT (TURBINE GAS TEMPERATURE), WE WERE ADVISED BY ANOTHER ACFT AND ATC OF FLAMES COMING OUT THE REAR OF #3 ENGINE. WE STOPPED THE ACFT, TO SECURE THE PROBLEM. (EMER EQUIPMENT WAS CALLED BY GND CTL.) WE ABORTED THE START, SHUTTING OFF FUEL AND MOTORED THE ENGINE UNTIL THE FLAMES WERE OUT AND TGT BELOW 100 DEG C ACCORDING TO PROCS. WE ASKED THE FIRE DEPT TO CONFIRM THE FIRE WAS OUT, AND TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP FOR INSPECTION OF DAMAGE, BY ACR MAINT. EVERYTHING CHECKED GOOD, AND ANOTHER START WAS MADE. ALL COCKPIT INDICATIONS, AS WELL AS VISUALLY BY MAINT, CHECKED OUT NORMAL. WE RELEASED THE FIRE TRUCK AND CONTINUED OUR TAXI FOR TKOF. PAX EVAC WAS NOT NECESSARY, AND AFTER EVALUATING THE PROBLEM IT APPEARED TO BE A MINOR TAIL PIPE FIRE, AS THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR REMAINDER OF FLT. ALL ABNORMAL PROCS WERE FOLLOWED REGARDING ENGINE START AND COMMUNICATING WITH PAX, ETC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Flames observed by ATC and other aircraft flight crew coming from #3 engine during start. No apparent cockpit indications.