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When dispatched with 1 generator inoperative, medium large transport is forced to descend when the APU flames out.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 244575 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199306 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : tul airport : stl |
| State Reference | OK |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 244575 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 1200 |
| ASRS Report | 244460 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
While at FL330, 1 CSD inoperative and dispatched with APU operating, APU quit working. ATC descent clearance for landing at tul was given to maintain 25000 ft. At 25000 ft APU restarted ok. All system were normal and flight was continued to destination (stl). Stl ground maintenance stated APU oil level was at the add line and that could have been the cause for initial APU shutdown. Company policy used to call for oil level inspection prior to each flight dispatched. It has now been changed to only daily. Recommend we go back to old procedure. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: flight was dispatched dfw-stl with 1 engine driven generator and the APU generator operating. Air carrier regulations call for landing at nearest suitable airport if a second generator fails. They began descent toward tul which was very close. At 25000 ft they got the APU to relight. They then continued on to stl, their original destination. The FAA met them and asked why they had changed their mind.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: WHEN DISPATCHED WITH 1 GENERATOR INOP, MLG IS FORCED TO DSND WHEN THE APU FLAMES OUT.
Narrative: WHILE AT FL330, 1 CSD INOP AND DISPATCHED WITH APU OPERATING, APU QUIT WORKING. ATC DSCNT CLRNC FOR LNDG AT TUL WAS GIVEN TO MAINTAIN 25000 FT. AT 25000 FT APU RESTARTED OK. ALL SYS WERE NORMAL AND FLT WAS CONTINUED TO DEST (STL). STL GND MAINT STATED APU OIL LEVEL WAS AT THE ADD LINE AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE FOR INITIAL APU SHUTDOWN. COMPANY POLICY USED TO CALL FOR OIL LEVEL INSPECTION PRIOR TO EACH FLT DISPATCHED. IT HAS NOW BEEN CHANGED TO ONLY DAILY. RECOMMEND WE GO BACK TO OLD PROC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: FLT WAS DISPATCHED DFW-STL WITH 1 ENG DRIVEN GENERATOR AND THE APU GENERATOR OPERATING. ACR REGS CALL FOR LNDG AT NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT IF A SECOND GENERATOR FAILS. THEY BEGAN DSCNT TOWARD TUL WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE. AT 25000 FT THEY GOT THE APU TO RELIGHT. THEY THEN CONTINUED ON TO STL, THEIR ORIGINAL DEST. THE FAA MET THEM AND ASKED WHY THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR MIND.
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.