A commercial fixed wing medium large transport aircraft on approach 6 NM from airport experienced an...

Attributes
ACN	375709
Time
Date	199707
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 185 flight time total : 9252 flight time type : 2319
ASRS Report	375709
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During a visual approach with an ILS backup to runway 34L at sea airport, the captain started the APU. The landing checklist had been completed with normal indications for confign of aircraft. APU start appeared to be normal. The APU fire detector illuminated with associated bell. As PF, I asked for APU fire in-flight checklist, which the captain completed. The fire light extinguished after the APU fire handle was pulled and a test of APU fire loop was completed with normal indication of system detectors. I then asked the captain to call for fire equipment as a precaution. He stated that 'let's just get this airplane on the ground' and did not ask for fire fighting equipment or inform tower of problem. Due to the proximity of the ground, the lack of conditions indicating any continuation of the problem, I elected to land the aircraft and not argue the point. A normal landing was accomplished and taxi to gate was uneventful. Company maintenance personnel inspected the APU and found only a small amount of soot near a detector loop. Complete inspection revealed no fire damage or indication of a fire. The APU was placarded inoperative and an incident report filed by the captain with the company. Postflt analysis of event led me to believe I should have pressed for the captain to require fire equipment for a safety backup on landing and taxi to gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL FIXED WING MLG ACFT ON APCH 6 NM FROM ARPT EXPERIENCED AN APU FIRE WARNING AFTER A NORMAL START. APU SHUT DOWN AND WARNING CEASED.

Narrative: DURING A VISUAL APCH WITH AN ILS BACKUP TO RWY 34L AT SEA ARPT, THE CAPT STARTED THE APU. THE LNDG CHKLIST HAD BEEN COMPLETED WITH NORMAL INDICATIONS FOR CONFIGN OF ACFT. APU START APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. THE APU FIRE DETECTOR ILLUMINATED WITH ASSOCIATED BELL. AS PF, I ASKED FOR APU FIRE INFLT CHKLIST, WHICH THE CAPT COMPLETED. THE FIRE LIGHT EXTINGUISHED AFTER THE APU FIRE HANDLE WAS PULLED AND A TEST OF APU FIRE LOOP WAS COMPLETED WITH NORMAL INDICATION OF SYS DETECTORS. I THEN ASKED THE CAPT TO CALL FOR FIRE EQUIP AS A PRECAUTION. HE STATED THAT 'LET'S JUST GET THIS AIRPLANE ON THE GND' AND DID NOT ASK FOR FIRE FIGHTING EQUIP OR INFORM TWR OF PROB. DUE TO THE PROX OF THE GND, THE LACK OF CONDITIONS INDICATING ANY CONTINUATION OF THE PROB, I ELECTED TO LAND THE ACFT AND NOT ARGUE THE POINT. A NORMAL LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND TAXI TO GATE WAS UNEVENTFUL. COMPANY MAINT PERSONNEL INSPECTED THE APU AND FOUND ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF SOOT NEAR A DETECTOR LOOP. COMPLETE INSPECTION REVEALED NO FIRE DAMAGE OR INDICATION OF A FIRE. THE APU WAS PLACARDED INOP AND AN INCIDENT RPT FILED BY THE CAPT WITH THE COMPANY. POSTFLT ANALYSIS OF EVENT LED ME TO BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE PRESSED FOR THE CAPT TO REQUIRE FIRE EQUIP FOR A SAFETY BACKUP ON LNDG AND TAXI TO GATE.

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.

A commercial fixed wing medium large transport aircraft on approach 6 NM from airport experienced an APU fire warning after a normal start. APU shut down and warning ceased.