False engine fire warning.

Attributes
ACN	314840
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx tower : fwa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude landing other other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 108 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	314840
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While climbing out of tpa at about 14000 ft, the #2 fire warning bell and light illuminated momentarily (less than 2 seconds). Fire warning system was tested and checked out normally. All engine indications were normal at all times. Talked to dispatch and maintenance control and found aircraft had a history of false warnings for the #2 engine. I elected to make a precautionary return to tampa. I coordinated with ATC and dumped 3000 pounds of fuel. I returned to tampa using #2 engine at reduced power. Landing normal. No evidence found by tampa maintenance of any obvious engine problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FALSE ENG FIRE WARNING.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING OUT OF TPA AT ABOUT 14000 FT, THE #2 FIRE WARNING BELL AND LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY (LESS THAN 2 SECONDS). FIRE WARNING SYS WAS TESTED AND CHKED OUT NORMALLY. ALL ENG INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL AT ALL TIMES. TALKED TO DISPATCH AND MAINT CTL AND FOUND ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF FALSE WARNINGS FOR THE #2 ENG. I ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY RETURN TO TAMPA. I COORDINATED WITH ATC AND DUMPED 3000 LBS OF FUEL. I RETURNED TO TAMPA USING #2 ENG AT REDUCED PWR. LNDG NORMAL. NO EVIDENCE FOUND BY TAMPA MAINT OF ANY OBVIOUS ENG PROB.

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.