Narrative:

On taxi out; received 'fire det 2 fault' level 1 alert. Referenced QRH and it stated that this required a 'no take-off' status. After stopping the aircraft to further investigate the situation; I performed another fire detection system test and then following this test we received an 'eng #2 fire' level 3 alert. We then ran the QRH procedures for engine fire/severe damage; shut down the engine; discharged the first fire bottle. After 30 seconds we still had the engine fire alert and so we discharged the second fire bottle. At this time we notified ZZZ fire rescue of our possible engine fire. Prior to fire rescue's arrival; the 'eng 2 fire' alert had extinguished. Fire rescue inspected engine #2 both visually and with firefighter thermal imaging camera (flir) and notified us that it appeared that there wasn't any fire present and that all was safe to taxi back to the ramp area. Fire rescue escorted us back to ramp with no further action on their part. After parking; we debriefed our maintenance [personnel] and released the aircraft to company ZZZ station maintenance.after discussing the event with our maintenance; it was determined that the initial fault ('fire det 2 fault') was caused by a fire detection controller system failure; (intermittent failure). The outcome of this alert is a total failure of engine #2 fire detection system; so takeoff is not authorized. The human factor error was on my part; when I ran another fire detection test; this I believe caused the 'engine 2 fire' alert due to system design. After the alert was displayed and failed to extinguish; we had no options but to respond to the fire alert; i.e. Shut down engine and discharge the fire bottles. At this point; without verification from an outside source; we felt our actions were appropriate along with notifying the fire rescue. There is no prevention to a system failure; but as far as the possible human error; maybe just sit on my hands and take in the situation for a few minutes before doing any system tests; as they can produce a possible wrong indication.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Captain and First Officer report that during taxi out in an MD-11 aircraft; a 'Fire Det 2 Fault' Level-1 Alert appeared. QRH stated 'No Take-Off' status. Another Fire Detection System Test was performed; followed by 'Eng #2 Fire' Level-3 Alert. Both Fire Bottles were discharged. Fire Rescue checked engine and said no fire present. Fire Detection Controller had failed.

Narrative: On Taxi out; received 'Fire Det 2 Fault' Level 1 Alert. Referenced QRH and it stated that this required a 'NO Take-Off' status. After stopping the aircraft to further investigate the situation; I performed another Fire Detection System Test and then following this test we received an 'Eng #2 Fire' Level 3 Alert. We then ran the QRH procedures for Engine Fire/Severe Damage; shut down the engine; discharged the first Fire Bottle. After 30 Seconds we still had the Engine Fire alert and so we discharged the second Fire Bottle. At this time we notified ZZZ Fire Rescue of our possible engine fire. Prior to Fire Rescue's arrival; the 'Eng 2 Fire' Alert had extinguished. Fire Rescue inspected Engine #2 both visually and with Firefighter Thermal Imaging Camera (FLIR) and notified us that it appeared that there wasn't any fire present and that all was safe to taxi back to the Ramp area. Fire Rescue escorted us back to Ramp with no further action on their part. After parking; we debriefed our Maintenance [personnel] and released the aircraft to Company ZZZ Station Maintenance.After discussing the event with our Maintenance; it was determined that the initial fault ('Fire Det 2 Fault') was caused by a Fire Detection Controller System failure; (Intermittent failure). The outcome of this Alert is a total failure of Engine #2 Fire Detection System; so takeoff is not authorized. The Human Factor Error was on my part; when I ran another Fire Detection Test; this I believe caused the 'Engine 2 Fire' Alert due to system design. After the Alert was displayed and failed to extinguish; we had no options but to respond to the Fire Alert; i.e. shut down engine and discharge the Fire Bottles. At this point; without verification from an outside source; we felt our actions were appropriate along with notifying the Fire Rescue. There is no prevention to a system failure; but as far as the possible human error; maybe just sit on my hands and take in the situation for a few minutes before doing any system tests; as they can produce a possible wrong indication.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.