Narrative:

Preflight occurrence -- prior to starting engines I accomplished all normal preflight duties. I noted a write-up in the aircraft logbook that the APU had been changed, but the work was not completed so the APU remained placarded inoperative. This requires an external air start at the gate. Upon attempting to start the #1 engine we were unable to get air to it. Maintenance was called and it was discovered that all 3 fire handles had been pulled. Handles were reset and the flight continued without further incident. This event reminds the crew of the importance of a thorough preflight as prescribed in the operating manual.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE ACR FLC OF A B727 DID NOT NOTICE DURING THEIR PREFLT THAT THE ENG FIRE HANDLES HAD BEEN PULLED. WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO START THE #1 ENG THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET IT TO ROTATE.

Narrative: PREFLT OCCURRENCE -- PRIOR TO STARTING ENGS I ACCOMPLISHED ALL NORMAL PREFLT DUTIES. I NOTED A WRITE-UP IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK THAT THE APU HAD BEEN CHANGED, BUT THE WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED SO THE APU REMAINED PLACARDED INOP. THIS REQUIRES AN EXTERNAL AIR START AT THE GATE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE #1 ENG WE WERE UNABLE TO GET AIR TO IT. MAINT WAS CALLED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL 3 FIRE HANDLES HAD BEEN PULLED. HANDLES WERE RESET AND THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS EVENT REMINDS THE CREW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A THOROUGH PREFLT AS PRESCRIBED IN THE OPERATING MANUAL.

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.