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A B727-200 started #1 engine for an accurate oil quantity check. Start lever was moved inadvertently to idle run causing tailpipe fire.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 521242 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200108 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine |
| ASRS Report | 521242 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other other : ramp 4 |
| Resolutory Action | aircraft : evacuated flight crew : declared emergency |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
Flight xyz was scheduled to be the first flight of the day for ship xyz. Approximately 35 mins prior to the flight's scheduled departure, I learned that the #1 oil quantity gauge indicated less than 2 gallons of oil. I coordinated with ramp and ground control to start the #1 engine. After completing the appropriate checklists, I shifted the start lever. The lever moved to the idle/run position, rather than the start position. I then ordered the start switch to be released and returned the leer to the cut-off position. Once the RPM's indicated zero, we motored the engine for approximately 20 seconds. Upon engine start, the oil quantity gauge indicated that there was over 3 gallons of oil. Shutdown procedures were accomplished. About 12-15 mins later, ramp personnel reported black smoke emanating from the #1 engine. The so verified the presence of smoke and a tailpipe fire. Emergency personnel were contacted and the passenger were immediately deplaned. Flight control, maintenance, and the chief pilot's office were all notified. A logbook entry of the event was made.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B727-200 STARTED #1 ENG FOR AN ACCURATE OIL QUANTITY CHK. START LEVER WAS MOVED INADVERTENTLY TO IDLE RUN CAUSING TAILPIPE FIRE.
Narrative: FLT XYZ WAS SCHEDULED TO BE THE FIRST FLT OF THE DAY FOR SHIP XYZ. APPROX 35 MINS PRIOR TO THE FLT'S SCHEDULED DEP, I LEARNED THAT THE #1 OIL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED LESS THAN 2 GALLONS OF OIL. I COORDINATED WITH RAMP AND GND CTL TO START THE #1 ENG. AFTER COMPLETING THE APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS, I SHIFTED THE START LEVER. THE LEVER MOVED TO THE IDLE/RUN POS, RATHER THAN THE START POS. I THEN ORDERED THE START SWITCH TO BE RELEASED AND RETURNED THE LEER TO THE CUT-OFF POS. ONCE THE RPM'S INDICATED ZERO, WE MOTORED THE ENG FOR APPROX 20 SECONDS. UPON ENG START, THE OIL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS OVER 3 GALLONS OF OIL. SHUTDOWN PROCS WERE ACCOMPLISHED. ABOUT 12-15 MINS LATER, RAMP PERSONNEL RPTED BLACK SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE #1 ENG. THE SO VERIFIED THE PRESENCE OF SMOKE AND A TAILPIPE FIRE. EMER PERSONNEL WERE CONTACTED AND THE PAX WERE IMMEDIATELY DEPLANED. FLT CTL, MAINT, AND THE CHIEF PLT'S OFFICE WERE ALL NOTIFIED. A LOGBOOK ENTRY OF THE EVENT WAS MADE.
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.