Narrative:

Flight from dfw to lga. During pre-departure, we discussed a logbook entry from the previous leg which stated that the #3 throttle was out of rig by over 1 knob width during cruise. The throttle was placed on an mco and we departed on time. While accomplishing the taxi checklist, the second officer stated alternate power settings would be sufficient for takeoff, however, the captain decided to use normal power instead. During the takeoff roll, throttles 1 and 2 were set at normal power, but #3 throttle required movement to the firewall to obtain 1.88-1.90 EPR or approximately alternate power setting. All engines obtained the minimum 91, N1 required, and all other #3 instruments showed normal indications. The takeoff was continued west/O incident. On returning to dallas the following day, the captain questioned maintenance personnel and found out that earlier, on the day of departure, a bleed valve had been found on the active runway at dfw airport, and it belonged to the aircraft which we had flown to lga. The aircraft had previously flown to mex and back to dfw. On retrospect, as a crew we would now make the decision to abort takeoff even though alternate power was achieved.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ONE OF THREE ENGINES ON ACR LGT WILL NOT PRODUCE EXPECTED POWER FOR TKOF, BUT FLT CREW ACCEPTS IT AS BEING WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE RANGE.

Narrative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

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.