Reverting to his MD80 ways; captain of a B737-400 begins to start second engine at the gate using an...

Attributes
ACN	701008
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
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	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	701008
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I elected to start 2 engines at the gate using an air cart. Communication with ground personnel was extremely poor on the headset; so alternate hand signals were used. After being on the MD80 for 19 yrs; a 2 engine start at the gate was a normal occurrence. I have been on the B737 for only 2.5 yrs and did not remember that a 2 engine start at the gate with an air cart puts maintenance/ground personnel in harm's way when the air ducting needs to be disconnected. I received clearance; via hand signals; to start the second engine after the area was safety checked. During the engine start; my copilot observed that the line mechanic was not happy with the developing situation; so I terminated the start process. No injury or damage resulted. The aircraft was pushed out of the gate and a normal engine xbleed start was accomplished. Contract personnel did seem puzzled that I was starting the second engine at the gate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REVERTING TO HIS MD80 WAYS; CAPT OF A B737-400 BEGINS TO START SECOND ENG AT THE GATE USING AN AIR CART. ABORTS START WHEN HE NOTICES GND PERSONNEL'S CONCERNED EXPRESSION.

Narrative: I ELECTED TO START 2 ENGS AT THE GATE USING AN AIR CART. COM WITH GND PERSONNEL WAS EXTREMELY POOR ON THE HEADSET; SO ALTERNATE HAND SIGNALS WERE USED. AFTER BEING ON THE MD80 FOR 19 YRS; A 2 ENG START AT THE GATE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. I HAVE BEEN ON THE B737 FOR ONLY 2.5 YRS AND DID NOT REMEMBER THAT A 2 ENG START AT THE GATE WITH AN AIR CART PUTS MAINT/GND PERSONNEL IN HARM'S WAY WHEN THE AIR DUCTING NEEDS TO BE DISCONNECTED. I RECEIVED CLRNC; VIA HAND SIGNALS; TO START THE SECOND ENG AFTER THE AREA WAS SAFETY CHKED. DURING THE ENG START; MY COPLT OBSERVED THAT THE LINE MECH WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE DEVELOPING SITUATION; SO I TERMINATED THE START PROCESS. NO INJURY OR DAMAGE RESULTED. THE ACFT WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE GATE AND A NORMAL ENG XBLEED START WAS ACCOMPLISHED. CONTRACT PERSONNEL DID SEEM PUZZLED THAT I WAS STARTING THE SECOND ENG AT THE GATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Reverting to his MD80 ways; captain of a B737-400 begins to start second engine at the gate using an air cart. Aborts start when he notices ground personnel's concerned expression.