An air carrier large transport returned and landed because of an engine fire indication.

Attributes
ACN	227395
Time
Date	199211
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 230
ASRS Report	227395
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

About 3 or 4 mins after takeoff with climb power set, the flight engineer noticed the #1 fire detection fault warning light illuminated. A few seconds later, the fire warning light and bell for #1 engine came on. We leveled off at 5000 ft and advised ATC we had a problem, requesting vectors back to ewr for a landing. I transferred control of aircraft to first officer and called for engine fire checklist. The flight engineer and I ran the checklist and the fire light went out when we reduced power on #1 engine. We requested a normal pattern back to ewr with fire and rescue standing by. We gave them fuel and souls on board but did not declare an emergency. The reason turned out to be a bleed air leak with no fire. After accomplishing the necessary checklists, we were able to land and taxi to the gate without further incident. Total time in-flight was 19 mins. My crew was very helpful with recommendations and checklist duties. I felt that I had to coordinate and pace the activity of checklists and ATC directives. Crew coordination concepts work very well. I do not know why I didn't declare an emergency but somehow it still carries some sort of stigma (negative) in the back of my mind. I will do so next time for sure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT RETURNED AND LANDED BECAUSE OF AN ENG FIRE INDICATION.

Narrative: ABOUT 3 OR 4 MINS AFTER TKOF WITH CLB PWR SET, THE FE NOTICED THE #1 FIRE DETECTION FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND BELL FOR #1 ENG CAME ON. WE LEVELED OFF AT 5000 FT AND ADVISED ATC WE HAD A PROBLEM, REQUESTING VECTORS BACK TO EWR FOR A LNDG. I TRANSFERRED CTL OF ACFT TO FO AND CALLED FOR ENG FIRE CHKLIST. THE FE AND I RAN THE CHKLIST AND THE FIRE LIGHT WENT OUT WHEN WE REDUCED PWR ON #1 ENG. WE REQUESTED A NORMAL PATTERN BACK TO EWR WITH FIRE AND RESCUE STANDING BY. WE GAVE THEM FUEL AND SOULS ON BOARD BUT DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. THE REASON TURNED OUT TO BE A BLEED AIR LEAK WITH NO FIRE. AFTER ACCOMPLISHING THE NECESSARY CHKLISTS, WE WERE ABLE TO LAND AND TAXI TO THE GATE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. TOTAL TIME INFLT WAS 19 MINS. MY CREW WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHKLIST DUTIES. I FELT THAT I HAD TO COORDINATE AND PACE THE ACTIVITY OF CHKLISTS AND ATC DIRECTIVES. CREW COORD CONCEPTS WORK VERY WELL. I DO NOT KNOW WHY I DIDN'T DECLARE AN EMER BUT SOMEHOW IT STILL CARRIES SOME SORT OF STIGMA (NEGATIVE) IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. I WILL DO SO NEXT TIME FOR SURE.

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.