Narrative:

While inbound to iad from bwi, the crew received a battery overtemp warning. We complied with the emergency checklist and completed the approach checklist. We were approximately 10 mi out by this time, on final to runway 19L at iad. The red warning light remained illuminated. The temperature gauge, however, read 'normal' temperature. I quickly called maintenance and gave a brief description. They advised it was most probable that the light was malfunctioning. I did not think that we were in an emergency situation. The battery had been isolated and there was no indication (smell, sight, smoke, etc), except the red light, that there was an emergency. However, to be safe, I thought I would request a fire truck to follow us to the gate. I requested the fire truck through the tower operator. We taxied to the gate and unloaded the passenger without further incident. There was a question about why I did not declare an emergency. The QRH (emergency checklist) was completed, and the temperature gauge showed normal. In my opinion there was not an emergency situation which would have required an emergency evacuation on an active runway, fire and rescue, etc, etc. My asking for a truck to follow us was simply for insurance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PART 135 FLC RECEIVED A BATTERY OVERTEMP WARNING WHILE IN DSCNT TO DEST. A FIRE TRUCK WAS REQUESTED AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.

Narrative: WHILE INBOUND TO IAD FROM BWI, THE CREW RECEIVED A BATTERY OVERTEMP WARNING. WE COMPLIED WITH THE EMER CHKLIST AND COMPLETED THE APCH CHKLIST. WE WERE APPROX 10 MI OUT BY THIS TIME, ON FINAL TO RWY 19L AT IAD. THE RED WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE TEMP GAUGE, HOWEVER, READ 'NORMAL' TEMP. I QUICKLY CALLED MAINT AND GAVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION. THEY ADVISED IT WAS MOST PROBABLE THAT THE LIGHT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I DID NOT THINK THAT WE WERE IN AN EMER SIT. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN ISOLATED AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION (SMELL, SIGHT, SMOKE, ETC), EXCEPT THE RED LIGHT, THAT THERE WAS AN EMER. HOWEVER, TO BE SAFE, I THOUGHT I WOULD REQUEST A FIRE TRUCK TO FOLLOW US TO THE GATE. I REQUESTED THE FIRE TRUCK THROUGH THE TWR OPERATOR. WE TAXIED TO THE GATE AND UNLOADED THE PAX WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHY I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. THE QRH (EMER CHKLIST) WAS COMPLETED, AND THE TEMP GAUGE SHOWED NORMAL. IN MY OPINION THERE WAS NOT AN EMER SIT WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AN EMER EVACUATION ON AN ACTIVE RWY, FIRE AND RESCUE, ETC, ETC. MY ASKING FOR A TRUCK TO FOLLOW US WAS SIMPLY FOR INSURANCE.

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.