<< >> NASA ASRS Report 328936, February 1996

Medium large transport operating with inoperative engine driven generator. APU being used as power source for electrical fails in-flight.

Attributes
ACN	328936
Time
Date	199602
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : far
State Reference	ND
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14800 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	328936
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flight diverted to far after the APU (which was being used as a power source for electrical system) failed due to low oil pressure warning. Our flight was dispatched from msp direct mot with the right engine driven generator inoperative. The APU powered the right electrical system. APU failed 40-50 mi east of fargo at FL350. An emergency was declared and cabin attendant briefed for landing in 20 mins. Excess fuel burned off to below maximum landing weight. No communication procedures were available to address this contingency. So the generator failure procedure was adapted. Landing was uneventful and fire/rescue crews examined the APU area for damage or fire. None found. The mechanics investigated the APU and found low on oil. Oil svced and APU operation restored. Flight continued on to mot with no problems.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG OPERATING WITH INOP ENG DRIVEN GENERATOR. APU BEING USED AS PWR SOURCE FOR ELECTRICAL FAILS INFLT.

Narrative: FLT DIVERTED TO FAR AFTER THE APU (WHICH WAS BEING USED AS A POWER SOURCE FOR ELECTRICAL SYS) FAILED DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING. OUR FLT WAS DISPATCHED FROM MSP DIRECT MOT WITH THE R ENG DRIVEN GENERATOR INOP. THE APU POWERED THE R ELECTRICAL SYS. APU FAILED 40-50 MI E OF FARGO AT FL350. AN EMER WAS DECLARED AND CABIN ATTENDANT BRIEFED FOR LNDG IN 20 MINS. EXCESS FUEL BURNED OFF TO BELOW MAX LNDG WT. NO COM PROCS WERE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THIS CONTINGENCY. SO THE GENERATOR FAILURE PROC WAS ADAPTED. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL AND FIRE/RESCUE CREWS EXAMINED THE APU AREA FOR DAMAGE OR FIRE. NONE FOUND. THE MECHS INVESTIGATED THE APU AND FOUND LOW ON OIL. OIL SVCED AND APU OP RESTORED. FLT CONTINUED ON TO MOT WITH NO PROBS.

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.