Narrative:

While starting the right engine, tower notified us that the right engine appeared to be on fire. Tower then scrambled emergency equipment. We complied with the QRH 'tailpipe fire or torching during start' procedures. After completing these procedures, emergency response personnel said that the fire was out. They inspected the engine and cleared us to taxi back to the gate. As we taxied back to the gate, the right engine fire handle illuminated and the fire bell rang. We ran the QRH 'engine fire' procedures which resulted in discharging our agent bottle, and the light went out. We asked the emergency response personnel, who were still close to the aircraft, to respond, and once again, they noted no fire and cleared us to taxi. As one final precaution, the emergency response personnel re-examined our aircraft one more time prior to pulling onto the gate. At the gate, the passenger deplaned without incident. At various times during these non-normals, I made PA's to inform the passenger of the situation and to ask them to remain in their seats. Prior to pulling onto the gate, I made a final 'de-briefing' PA. QRH procedures worked well. Emergency response personnel responded immediately and professionally. Good communications and CRM with passenger and flight attendants and emergency response prevented an unnecessary evacuate/evacuation. Torching procedures did not prevent torching from triggering a fire alarm. Aircraft was returned to service the very next day with no engine damage noted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW HAD ENG TORCHING AND FIRE WARNING.

Narrative: WHILE STARTING THE R ENG, TWR NOTIFIED US THAT THE R ENG APPEARED TO BE ON FIRE. TWR THEN SCRAMBLED EMER EQUIP. WE COMPLIED WITH THE QRH 'TAILPIPE FIRE OR TORCHING DURING START' PROCS. AFTER COMPLETING THESE PROCS, EMER RESPONSE PERSONNEL SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THEY INSPECTED THE ENG AND CLRED US TO TAXI BACK TO THE GATE. AS WE TAXIED BACK TO THE GATE, THE R ENG FIRE HANDLE ILLUMINATED AND THE FIRE BELL RANG. WE RAN THE QRH 'ENG FIRE' PROCS WHICH RESULTED IN DISCHARGING OUR AGENT BOTTLE, AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT. WE ASKED THE EMER RESPONSE PERSONNEL, WHO WERE STILL CLOSE TO THE ACFT, TO RESPOND, AND ONCE AGAIN, THEY NOTED NO FIRE AND CLRED US TO TAXI. AS ONE FINAL PRECAUTION, THE EMER RESPONSE PERSONNEL RE-EXAMINED OUR ACFT ONE MORE TIME PRIOR TO PULLING ONTO THE GATE. AT THE GATE, THE PAX DEPLANED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THESE NON-NORMALS, I MADE PA'S TO INFORM THE PAX OF THE SIT AND TO ASK THEM TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS. PRIOR TO PULLING ONTO THE GATE, I MADE A FINAL 'DE-BRIEFING' PA. QRH PROCS WORKED WELL. EMER RESPONSE PERSONNEL RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND PROFESSIONALLY. GOOD COMS AND CRM WITH PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS AND EMER RESPONSE PREVENTED AN UNNECESSARY EVAC. TORCHING PROCS DID NOT PREVENT TORCHING FROM TRIGGERING A FIRE ALARM. ACFT WAS RETURNED TO SVC THE VERY NEXT DAY WITH NO ENG DAMAGE NOTED.

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.