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B717 crew attempted engine start below the minimum pneumatic listed in the start limitations. An external start cart was being used.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 552336 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200206 |
| Day | Sun |
| 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 | B717 (Formerly MD-95) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 7500 |
| ASRS Report | 552336 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine |
| ASRS Report | 552337 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : pneumatic pressure eicas display other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Company Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Pilot was operating B717 aircraft with inoperative APU (MEL item). On initial attempt to start #1 engine, external air unit produced 29030 psi as read on aircraft FMS pneumatic screen. B717 requires minimum 32 psi/maximum 43 psi for start. #1 engine start sequence automatic-aborted after 2 mins (before N1, indication was observed). Ground crew reported 'it was slow yesterday, too, but crews got the engines started.' during #2 engine start, light off was observed at 23.5% N2 and 4.5% N1. The start was slow and tgt peaked at 610 degrees C. #1 engine start was attempted for a second time following #2. Light off occurred at 23.9% and 4.5% N1. The start was slow and tgt peaked at 595 degrees C. I am concerned that air start carts at stations in ZZZ and ZZZ1 are incapable of producing required pressure, or our aircraft has a duct leak. I was told air cart pressures are factory pre-set and cannot be adjusted. I am concerned that insufficient pressure could result in engine damage (hot start, etc).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B717 CREW ATTEMPTED ENG START BELOW THE MINIMUM PNEUMATIC LISTED IN THE START LIMITATIONS. AN EXTERNAL START CART WAS BEING USED.
Narrative: PLT WAS OPERATING B717 ACFT WITH INOP APU (MEL ITEM). ON INITIAL ATTEMPT TO START #1 ENG, EXTERNAL AIR UNIT PRODUCED 29030 PSI AS READ ON ACFT FMS PNEUMATIC SCREEN. B717 REQUIRES MINIMUM 32 PSI/MAX 43 PSI FOR START. #1 ENG START SEQUENCE AUTO-ABORTED AFTER 2 MINS (BEFORE N1, INDICATION WAS OBSERVED). GND CREW RPTED 'IT WAS SLOW YESTERDAY, TOO, BUT CREWS GOT THE ENGS STARTED.' DURING #2 ENG START, LIGHT OFF WAS OBSERVED AT 23.5% N2 AND 4.5% N1. THE START WAS SLOW AND TGT PEAKED AT 610 DEGS C. #1 ENG START WAS ATTEMPTED FOR A SECOND TIME FOLLOWING #2. LIGHT OFF OCCURRED AT 23.9% AND 4.5% N1. THE START WAS SLOW AND TGT PEAKED AT 595 DEGS C. I AM CONCERNED THAT AIR START CARTS AT STATIONS IN ZZZ AND ZZZ1 ARE INCAPABLE OF PRODUCING REQUIRED PRESSURE, OR OUR ACFT HAS A DUCT LEAK. I WAS TOLD AIR CART PRESSURES ARE FACTORY PRE-SET AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. I AM CONCERNED THAT INSUFFICIENT PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN ENG DAMAGE (HOT START, ETC).
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.