B777 captain details electrical problems during attempted engine starts in the deice pad. After the ...

Narrative:

After normal pushback and tow out to deicing pad; we were deiced and ready for engine start. During engine start rotation was observed and then a rumbling vibration was felt in the airframe followed by loss of both left and right main AC buses. Most of the aircraft went dark for 10 or 15 seconds and engines would not start. Engine abort procedure was followed. We tried to start engines a second time with same result. A tow back to the gate was requested. After maintenance was involved a further start was attempted at the gate with APU power. The mechanic reported on headset from outside to abort start due to APU compressor stalls with flames shooting out the APU tailpipe. Dispatch advised me they would placard the APU inoperative. I refused aircraft with APU inoperative and electrical bus problems for flight over 'the cold; dark north atlantic in marginal weather'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 Captain details electrical problems during attempted engine starts in the deice pad. After the second aborted start attempt the aircraft is towed back to the gate where a third attempt is also unsuccessful; the aircraft was then refused.

Narrative: After normal pushback and tow out to deicing pad; we were deiced and ready for engine start. During engine start rotation was observed and then a rumbling vibration was felt in the airframe followed by loss of both left and right main AC buses. Most of the aircraft went dark for 10 or 15 seconds and engines would not start. Engine abort procedure was followed. We tried to start engines a second time with same result. A tow back to the gate was requested. After maintenance was involved a further start was attempted at the gate with APU power. The Mechanic reported on headset from outside to abort start due to APU compressor stalls with flames shooting out the APU tailpipe. Dispatch advised me they would placard the APU inoperative. I refused aircraft with APU inoperative and electrical bus problems for flight over 'The Cold; Dark North Atlantic in Marginal Weather'.

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.

Attributes
ACN	930357
Time
Date	201101
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	APU
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

B777 captain details electrical problems during attempted engine starts in the deice pad. After the second aborted start attempt the aircraft is towed back to the gate where a third attempt is also unsuccessful; the aircraft was then refused.