 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
The right engine of a commuter turboprop was started with the propeller tether attached. The flight crew aborted the start and the tether broke loose from the cowling.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 324795 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199512 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dtw |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | ground : preflight |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1200 |
| ASRS Report | 324795 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Engine #2 was started with the propeller tether attached. Night conditions, without ramp lighting, and first officer's windshield was contaminated with glycol deice solution. Normal 'before start' checks were performed and checklist called 'clear, starting engine check complete.' I did look but was unable to see the propeller tether due to the above conditions. Loud noise was heard by crew which initiated an abort of engine start. Inspection found propeller tether latch broke loose from cowling. Maintenance was called, aircraft inspected and found no damage. Flight proceeded 30 mins late. Ground agent responsible for engine start also cleared the area and gave the start signal. Recommendations: change operating procedures when glycol or other environmental items restricts view by flight crew. Provide a 'squeegee' to clear window so area can be viewed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THE R ENG OF A COMMUTER TURBOPROP WAS STARTED WITH THE PROP TETHER ATTACHED. THE FLC ABORTED THE START AND THE TETHER BROKE LOOSE FROM THE COWLING.
Narrative: ENG #2 WAS STARTED WITH THE PROP TETHER ATTACHED. NIGHT CONDITIONS, WITHOUT RAMP LIGHTING, AND FO'S WINDSHIELD WAS CONTAMINATED WITH GLYCOL DEICE SOLUTION. NORMAL 'BEFORE START' CHKS WERE PERFORMED AND CHKLIST CALLED 'CLR, STARTING ENG CHK COMPLETE.' I DID LOOK BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE PROP TETHER DUE TO THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD BY CREW WHICH INITIATED AN ABORT OF ENG START. INSPECTION FOUND PROP TETHER LATCH BROKE LOOSE FROM COWLING. MAINT WAS CALLED, ACFT INSPECTED AND FOUND NO DAMAGE. FLT PROCEEDED 30 MINS LATE. GND AGENT RESPONSIBLE FOR ENG START ALSO CLRED THE AREA AND GAVE THE START SIGNAL. RECOMMENDATIONS: CHANGE OPERATING PROCS WHEN GLYCOL OR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS RESTRICTS VIEW BY FLC. PROVIDE A 'SQUEEGEE' TO CLR WINDOW SO AREA CAN BE VIEWED.
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.