Electrical system generator failure on advanced technology medium large transport.

Attributes
ACN	129041
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 41000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 156 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 1037
ASRS Report	121041
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The right generator drive warning light began to flash on and off during cruise at FL410. A descent was requested to descend to FL280 to try to start the APU for a backup electrical power source. ZMP cleared us to FL280 with a 30 degree left turn to clear traffic. The right generator failed while descending thru FL290. The APU started on the second attempt at FL280. The electrical power was restored, ATC notified that the flight could now continue to dtw with all systems, including right generator, restored. Dispatch was notified and flight continued to dtw at FL280 the abnormal checklist was completed after APU start.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GENERATOR FAILURE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MLG.

Narrative: THE RIGHT GENERATOR DRIVE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF DURING CRUISE AT FL410. A DSCNT WAS REQUESTED TO DSND TO FL280 TO TRY TO START THE APU FOR A BACKUP ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCE. ZMP CLRED US TO FL280 WITH A 30 DEG LEFT TURN TO CLEAR TFC. THE RIGHT GENERATOR FAILED WHILE DESCENDING THRU FL290. THE APU STARTED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT FL280. THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS RESTORED, ATC NOTIFIED THAT THE FLT COULD NOW CONTINUE TO DTW WITH ALL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING RIGHT GENERATOR, RESTORED. DISPATCH WAS NOTIFIED AND FLT CONTINUED TO DTW AT FL280 THE ABNORMAL CHECKLIST WAS COMPLETED AFTER APU START.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.