Commuter crew operated flight with an almost dead battery.

Attributes
ACN	561641
Time
Date	200210
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cak.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bdr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	561641
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eicas electrical other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : non availability of parts contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We were operating flight from cak to ZZZ. When we arrived at the aircraft that morning in cak, contract maintenance was on board. The external aircraft power cart was connected with all aircraft power operating normally. Maintenance informed me the main battery was dead when he arrived earlier. The dc electric page indicated there was sufficient voltage to start the APU. APU was then started and the air carrier external AC power was disconnected. Air carrier maintenance controller was then contacted and informed of the situation. Maintenance stated that since everything appeared to be operating normally, to fly the aircraft back to ZZZ -- once back in ZZZ, they would change batteries for preventive maintenance. Once the flight was completed, I realized that the battery may not have been fully recharged before departing from cak to ZZZ. As a result, it's possible this aircraft may not have been airworthy for this part 121 revenue flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER CREW OPERATED FLT WITH AN ALMOST DEAD BATTERY.

Narrative: WE WERE OPERATING FLT FROM CAK TO ZZZ. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE ACFT THAT MORNING IN CAK, CONTRACT MAINT WAS ON BOARD. THE EXTERNAL ACFT PWR CART WAS CONNECTED WITH ALL ACFT PWR OPERATING NORMALLY. MAINT INFORMED ME THE MAIN BATTERY WAS DEAD WHEN HE ARRIVED EARLIER. THE DC ELECTRIC PAGE INDICATED THERE WAS SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE TO START THE APU. APU WAS THEN STARTED AND THE ACR EXTERNAL AC PWR WAS DISCONNECTED. ACR MAINT CTLR WAS THEN CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE SIT. MAINT STATED THAT SINCE EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY, TO FLY THE ACFT BACK TO ZZZ -- ONCE BACK IN ZZZ, THEY WOULD CHANGE BATTERIES FOR PREVENTIVE MAINT. ONCE THE FLT WAS COMPLETED, I REALIZED THAT THE BATTERY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY RECHARGED BEFORE DEPARTING FROM CAK TO ZZZ. AS A RESULT, IT'S POSSIBLE THIS ACFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AIRWORTHY FOR THIS PART 121 REVENUE FLT.

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.