False fire warning.

Attributes
ACN	272744
Time
Date	199405
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abq
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	272744
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	272742
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During cruise flight from phx to huf in an all cargo B727 a 'cargo smoke' light on the flight engineer's panel illuminated. After physically inspecting the cargo compartment, we determined the illuminated light to be a false indication. After reviewing the company procedure for such an indication. We safely continued the flight to its destination. The company procedure has no provisions for such a false indication. The only procedure is for 'main cargo compartment smoke or fire.' we continued the flight under the pretense that, after physical inspection, there was not any 'main cabin cargo compartment smoke or fire' and that to 'land as soon as possible,' as the procedure calls, in poor WX, at night, at an unfamiliar airport at maximum gross weight would not be prudent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FALSE FIRE WARNING.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE FLT FROM PHX TO HUF IN AN ALL CARGO B727 A 'CARGO SMOKE' LIGHT ON THE FE'S PANEL ILLUMINATED. AFTER PHYSICALLY INSPECTING THE CARGO COMPARTMENT, WE DETERMINED THE ILLUMINATED LIGHT TO BE A FALSE INDICATION. AFTER REVIEWING THE COMPANY PROC FOR SUCH AN INDICATION. WE SAFELY CONTINUED THE FLT TO ITS DEST. THE COMPANY PROC HAS NO PROVISIONS FOR SUCH A FALSE INDICATION. THE ONLY PROC IS FOR 'MAIN CARGO COMPARTMENT SMOKE OR FIRE.' WE CONTINUED THE FLT UNDER THE PRETENSE THAT, AFTER PHYSICAL INSPECTION, THERE WAS NOT ANY 'MAIN CABIN CARGO COMPARTMENT SMOKE OR FIRE' AND THAT TO 'LAND ASAP,' AS THE PROC CALLS, IN POOR WX, AT NIGHT, AT AN UNFAMILIAR ARPT AT MAX GROSS WT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT.

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.