Narrative:

During #2 engine start, lightoff and acceleration appeared to be normal initially. N1, EPR, and tgt reached normal limits, but N2 only reached 35%. I aborted the start at approximately 1 min 30 seconds by pressing the start button, turning off the ignition, and shutting off the fuel lever. Pressing the start button caused an engine #2 failure message and checklist on the MFDU. I verified 0 fuel flow, watched as the tgt and RPM's decreased, and asked the guideman to check the engine for torching or smoke. He could not verify this because of darkness and snowfall, so I elected to motor the engine to clear it. As I did this, it was evident that the starter had never dropped out from the initial start attempt. Since I estimated the total starter engaged time at about 3 mins 15 seconds, I included this information in my log entry. This start attempt problem did not fit any scenario I had seen in simulators or classroom training, and due to the automated start system of the fokker 100, it was not obvious that the starter had not dropped out, nor were we initially certain that we had a problem at all. After discussion with ord maintenance and ZZZ technician, I learned that this problem is caused by some burner cans failing to light. This condition is surprising when first encountered.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FOKKER 100 ON #2 ENG START ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL EXCEPT N2 SPD WHICH REMAINED AT 35% CAUSED BY FAILURE OF ALL THE COMBUSTION BURNER CANS TO LIGHT. AS A RESULT THE STARTER NEVER DISENGAGED.

Narrative: DURING #2 ENG START, LIGHTOFF AND ACCELERATION APPEARED TO BE NORMAL INITIALLY. N1, EPR, AND TGT REACHED NORMAL LIMITS, BUT N2 ONLY REACHED 35%. I ABORTED THE START AT APPROX 1 MIN 30 SECONDS BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, AND SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL LEVER. PRESSING THE START BUTTON CAUSED AN ENG #2 FAILURE MESSAGE AND CHKLIST ON THE MFDU. I VERIFIED 0 FUEL FLOW, WATCHED AS THE TGT AND RPM'S DECREASED, AND ASKED THE GUIDEMAN TO CHK THE ENG FOR TORCHING OR SMOKE. HE COULD NOT VERIFY THIS BECAUSE OF DARKNESS AND SNOWFALL, SO I ELECTED TO MOTOR THE ENG TO CLR IT. AS I DID THIS, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE STARTER HAD NEVER DROPPED OUT FROM THE INITIAL START ATTEMPT. SINCE I ESTIMATED THE TOTAL STARTER ENGAGED TIME AT ABOUT 3 MINS 15 SECONDS, I INCLUDED THIS INFO IN MY LOG ENTRY. THIS START ATTEMPT PROB DID NOT FIT ANY SCENARIO I HAD SEEN IN SIMULATORS OR CLASSROOM TRAINING, AND DUE TO THE AUTOMATED START SYS OF THE FOKKER 100, IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS THAT THE STARTER HAD NOT DROPPED OUT, NOR WERE WE INITIALLY CERTAIN THAT WE HAD A PROB AT ALL. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH ORD MAINT AND ZZZ TECHNICIAN, I LEARNED THAT THIS PROB IS CAUSED BY SOME BURNER CANS FAILING TO LIGHT. THIS CONDITION IS SURPRISING WHEN FIRST ENCOUNTERED.

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.