 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
MD83 flight crew reported cargo compartment fire warning climbing through FL200. An emergency was declared and flight returned to departure airport where warning was determined to be false.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 844375 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200907 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | MD-83 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Cargo Compartment Fire/Overheat Warning |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Flying |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe |
Narrative:
Departed; when approximately 40 miles south climbing through FL200 (for FL230) received cargo fire warning alert - aural and annunciated. Leveled at FL210; declared emergency as captain (pilot not flying) carried out checklist procedures and alerted flight attendants. With continued cargo fire alert; immediately headed for our departure airport and was given continual clearance for landing on runway xxr; opposite of current runways in use. As the captain continued to communicate with flight attendants we set up for an overweight landing (134;000 pounds) on runway xxr with the intention of meeting the arff at high speed - which we did. The arff reacted brilliantly (as did ATC; the captain and the flight attendants); and were finally able to confirm the cargo fire warning was a false alarm; after some time. The captain was coordinating with the port control and flight attendants and the decision not to evacuate was a good one; in my opinion. However; we of course treated the fire alert as if the aft cargo hold fire was real. After release by the arff we were towed to the gate.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD83 flight crew reported cargo compartment fire warning climbing through FL200. An emergency was declared and flight returned to departure airport where warning was determined to be false.
Narrative: Departed; when approximately 40 miles south climbing through FL200 (for FL230) received cargo fire warning alert - aural and annunciated. Leveled at FL210; declared emergency as Captain (pilot not flying) carried out checklist procedures and alerted flight attendants. With continued cargo fire alert; immediately headed for our departure airport and was given continual clearance for landing on Runway XXR; opposite of current runways in use. As the Captain continued to communicate with flight attendants we set up for an overweight landing (134;000 LBS) on Runway XXR with the intention of meeting the ARFF at high speed - which we did. The ARFF reacted brilliantly (as did ATC; the Captain and the flight attendants); and were finally able to confirm the cargo fire warning was a false alarm; after some time. The Captain was coordinating with the port control and flight attendants and the decision not to evacuate was a good one; in my opinion. However; we of course treated the fire alert as if the aft cargo hold fire was real. After release by the ARFF we were towed to the gate.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.