B757-200 stranded short of gate for more than an hour due to heavy snow; zero visibility and icy ram...

Attributes
ACN	718438
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Weather Elements	other
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	718438
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters other non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Reporter was conducting line check and observed severe winter operations at den on arrival. We were unable to taxi to gate due to visibility and ice and blocked gate for approximately 80 mins after touchdown. Braking action was poor on all surfaces; especially ramp. It was decided that engine run-ups were ill advised in such circumstance; especially when some aircraft were reporting that they were skidding on ramp; 1 aircraft reported a 200 ft skid! Flight manual dictates a report to maintenance when more than 30 mins elapse between run-ups so we sent message on ACARS to maintenance advising special engine inspection was required. ACARS message bounced as it timed us out as a flight -- another issue. So captain made call to maintenance at gate when we eventually arrived. Captain reported to me that maintenance felt there was no special inspection required; which clearly contradicts the flight manual. We were very concerned about blade icing. I briefed outbound captain on requirement for engine deicing. I am unsure who the captain was specifically talking to; but maintenance needs to be aware of significance of this inspection. I file this for awareness purposes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 STRANDED SHORT OF GATE FOR MORE THAN AN HR DUE TO HVY SNOW; ZERO VISIBILITY AND ICY RAMPS FINDS MAINT IS UNAWARE OF FLT CREW AIRPLANE MANUAL REQUIREMENT FOR A SPECIAL MAINT INSPECTION OF ENGS OPERATING IN SUCH CONDITIONS WITHOUT PERIODIC RUN-UPS TO SHED POSSIBLE COMPRESSOR ICE BUILDUP.

Narrative: RPTR WAS CONDUCTING LINE CHK AND OBSERVED SEVERE WINTER OPS AT DEN ON ARR. WE WERE UNABLE TO TAXI TO GATE DUE TO VISIBILITY AND ICE AND BLOCKED GATE FOR APPROX 80 MINS AFTER TOUCHDOWN. BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR ON ALL SURFACES; ESPECIALLY RAMP. IT WAS DECIDED THAT ENG RUN-UPS WERE ILL ADVISED IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCE; ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME ACFT WERE RPTING THAT THEY WERE SKIDDING ON RAMP; 1 ACFT RPTED A 200 FT SKID! FLT MANUAL DICTATES A RPT TO MAINT WHEN MORE THAN 30 MINS ELAPSE BTWN RUN-UPS SO WE SENT MESSAGE ON ACARS TO MAINT ADVISING SPECIAL ENG INSPECTION WAS REQUIRED. ACARS MESSAGE BOUNCED AS IT TIMED US OUT AS A FLT -- ANOTHER ISSUE. SO CAPT MADE CALL TO MAINT AT GATE WHEN WE EVENTUALLY ARRIVED. CAPT RPTED TO ME THAT MAINT FELT THERE WAS NO SPECIAL INSPECTION REQUIRED; WHICH CLRLY CONTRADICTS THE FLT MANUAL. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BLADE ICING. I BRIEFED OUTBOUND CAPT ON REQUIREMENT FOR ENG DEICING. I AM UNSURE WHO THE CAPT WAS SPECIFICALLY TALKING TO; BUT MAINT NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS INSPECTION. I FILE THIS FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.

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.