False indication of fire smoke in aft cargo bin on air carrier medium large transport at ramp. Passe...

Attributes
ACN	138057
Time
Date	199002
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	ground : preflight other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 27000 flight time type : 420
ASRS Report	138057
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During preflight briefing of F/a (first officer had not arrived the aircraft), I heard a continuous repetitive chime from the cockpit. I went to investigate and found indication of smoke in aft cargo bin. (This was annunciated on ECAM.) I followed the emergency checklist on ECAM and discharged the fire extinguisher. I then called ground control and declared the situation. I advised our position and gate and requested the fire equipment. There were approximately 10-14 passengers on board and 4 F/a's all about the middle of the aircraft. I ordered all of the aircraft and stood where I could both observe and be observed. F/a's did an excellent job of evacuating the passenger. Note: I ordered everyone out the main cabin door for the following reasons: 1) small number to be handled. 2) slides were not armed. 3) ramp was slick and icey. 4) there is always risk in using slides and they were not required by the situation. Next, I completed securing the aircraft then went outside and ordered the fuel truck and baggage charts away from the aircraft. About this time the fire/rescue equipment arrived. I briefed the fire chief and required all luggage and cargo to be off-loaded and inspected as well as the aircraft. No evidence of fire or smoke was found. Computer check later showed a smoke detector malfunction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FALSE INDICATION OF FIRE SMOKE IN AFT CARGO BIN ON ACR MLG AT RAMP. PASSENGERS ON BOARD WERE EVACUATED THROUGH FRONT PASSENGER DOOR.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT BRIEFING OF F/A (F/O HAD NOT ARRIVED THE ACFT), I HEARD A CONTINUOUS REPETITIVE CHIME FROM THE COCKPIT. I WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND INDICATION OF SMOKE IN AFT CARGO BIN. (THIS WAS ANNUNCIATED ON ECAM.) I FOLLOWED THE EMER CHECKLIST ON ECAM AND DISCHARGED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I THEN CALLED GND CTL AND DECLARED THE SITUATION. I ADVISED OUR POSITION AND GATE AND REQUESTED THE FIRE EQUIPMENT. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 10-14 PASSENGERS ON BOARD AND 4 F/A'S ALL ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE ACFT. I ORDERED ALL OF THE ACFT AND STOOD WHERE I COULD BOTH OBSERVE AND BE OBSERVED. F/A'S DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF EVACUATING THE PAX. NOTE: I ORDERED EVERYONE OUT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1) SMALL NUMBER TO BE HANDLED. 2) SLIDES WERE NOT ARMED. 3) RAMP WAS SLICK AND ICEY. 4) THERE IS ALWAYS RISK IN USING SLIDES AND THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED BY THE SITUATION. NEXT, I COMPLETED SECURING THE ACFT THEN WENT OUTSIDE AND ORDERED THE FUEL TRUCK AND BAGGAGE CHARTS AWAY FROM THE ACFT. ABOUT THIS TIME THE FIRE/RESCUE EQUIPMENT ARRIVED. I BRIEFED THE FIRE CHIEF AND REQUIRED ALL LUGGAGE AND CARGO TO BE OFF-LOADED AND INSPECTED AS WELL AS THE ACFT. NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE OR SMOKE WAS FOUND. COMPUTER CHECK LATER SHOWED A SMOKE DETECTOR MALFUNCTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

False indication of fire smoke in aft cargo bin on air carrier medium large transport at ramp. Passengers on board were evacuated through front passenger door.