B737-800 flight crew has fire detection system fail; diverts for landing.

Attributes
ACN	721772
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 38000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	721772
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	722539
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fire warning loop detector fail other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While operating with the deferred 'a' loop on #2 engine the 'B' loop failed. After running checklist for the fault we got a patch through ny commercial radio to dispatcher and after conferring with dispatch and maintenance; proceeded to land at chs. The event and diversion proceeded smoothly with the biggest glitch being the fact that we were over the ocean and out of contact with both company and ATC. We have to get a phone patch as well as coordinate the divert with ATC via HF.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 FLT CREW HAS FIRE DETECTION SYS FAIL; DIVERTS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE OPERATING WITH THE DEFERRED 'A' LOOP ON #2 ENG THE 'B' LOOP FAILED. AFTER RUNNING CHKLIST FOR THE FAULT WE GOT A PATCH THROUGH NY COMMERCIAL RADIO TO DISPATCHER AND AFTER CONFERRING WITH DISPATCH AND MAINT; PROCEEDED TO LAND AT CHS. THE EVENT AND DIVERSION PROCEEDED SMOOTHLY WITH THE BIGGEST GLITCH BEING THE FACT THAT WE WERE OVER THE OCEAN AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH BOTH COMPANY AND ATC. WE HAVE TO GET A PHONE PATCH AS WELL AS COORDINATE THE DIVERT WITH ATC VIA HF.

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.