 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
An MD80 in leveloff at FL330 diverted due to the left engine spooled down to 70% N1 with compressor stalls caused by inoperative boost pump placarding error.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 487475 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200010 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : abq.airport |
| State Reference | NM |
| Altitude | msl single value : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zab.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Super 80 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : j6.airway |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| ASRS Report | 487475 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 487845 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel low pressure warning other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Maintenance Human Performance |
Narrative:
After reviewing the logbook of tail xyz, I noted that the left aft boost pump was written up for popping the circuit breaker on oct/mon/00. I then noted that a boost pump was placarded inoperative and logbook signed off per the MEL. We departed abq with the placarded switch in the 'off' position. While climbing through FL300 the left engine inlet fuel pressure low annunciator began to flicker. I began running the checklist while the annunciator was now on steady. After leveling off at FL330, the left engine rolled back to approximately 70% N1 and began to compressor stall. Captain disconnected the autothrottles and the autoplt and maintained aircraft control. While I ran the checklist and after turning the xfeed on and the annunciator extinguishing, we assumed duel boost pump failure. Since the engine appeared not to be suction feeding, we elected to leave the fuel xfeed on to ensure engine operation until landing. Due to possible engine failure and impending fuel imbalance, we coordinated with ATC and diverted to abq with no further interruption of engine operation. After discussions with maintenance, it was discovered that the forward boost pump was incorrectly placarded by ZZZ maintenance on oct/mon/00, instead of the aft boost pump.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 IN LEVELOFF AT FL330 DIVERTED DUE TO THE L ENG SPOOLED DOWN TO 70% N1 WITH COMPRESSOR STALLS CAUSED BY INOP BOOST PUMP PLACARDING ERROR.
Narrative: AFTER REVIEWING THE LOGBOOK OF TAIL XYZ, I NOTED THAT THE L AFT BOOST PUMP WAS WRITTEN UP FOR POPPING THE CB ON OCT/MON/00. I THEN NOTED THAT A BOOST PUMP WAS PLACARDED INOP AND LOGBOOK SIGNED OFF PER THE MEL. WE DEPARTED ABQ WITH THE PLACARDED SWITCH IN THE 'OFF' POS. WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL300 THE L ENG INLET FUEL PRESSURE LOW ANNUNCIATOR BEGAN TO FLICKER. I BEGAN RUNNING THE CHKLIST WHILE THE ANNUNCIATOR WAS NOW ON STEADY. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT FL330, THE L ENG ROLLED BACK TO APPROX 70% N1 AND BEGAN TO COMPRESSOR STALL. CAPT DISCONNECTED THE AUTOTHROTTLES AND THE AUTOPLT AND MAINTAINED ACFT CTL. WHILE I RAN THE CHKLIST AND AFTER TURNING THE XFEED ON AND THE ANNUNCIATOR EXTINGUISHING, WE ASSUMED DUEL BOOST PUMP FAILURE. SINCE THE ENG APPEARED NOT TO BE SUCTION FEEDING, WE ELECTED TO LEAVE THE FUEL XFEED ON TO ENSURE ENG OP UNTIL LNDG. DUE TO POSSIBLE ENG FAILURE AND IMPENDING FUEL IMBALANCE, WE COORDINATED WITH ATC AND DIVERTED TO ABQ WITH NO FURTHER INTERRUPTION OF ENG OP. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH MAINT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FORWARD BOOST PUMP WAS INCORRECTLY PLACARDED BY ZZZ MAINT ON OCT/MON/00, INSTEAD OF THE AFT BOOST PUMP.
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.