Narrative:

Aircraft was taxiing out for departure. The #2 generator and field tripped off the line. I pulled out the checklist and began. It said 'check CSD and RPM and permanent magnet generator volts. RPM were 1100-1200 RPM above normal. Limits on CSD is plus or minus 400 RPM. Checklist says 'if RPM not normal, disconnect CSD.' captain wanted to try to reset regardless of CSD RPM, over my objections, and references to checklist and company procedures. I asked the captain 'do you really want to do something that goes against checklist, limitations, company policy?' he said, 'yes! Try and put it on line. If it holds, we are out of here. If not we will follow procedures.' I am checking with chief pilot as to what one should do in this situation. He is the captain, and what he says goes to an extent. That night in msp, after writing the #2 CSD/generator up, maintenance found a faulty generator control unit and replaced faulty unit. All is well now. Next time, I might just say no! And take the consequences. The first officer was no help, he just sat there. No back, just let the captain ramble on and do what he wanted. I might suggest that all crew members participate in decisions that there is time to talk about like this one. I deferred to captain's authority/authorized on this direct violation. The next day I asked him what we should have done in this situation. He said 'just what we did.' I said 'really.' he said,' you need to get from point a to point B. You can't follow all the regulations or you would never go flying.' I just don't get this attitude!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR WDB CAPT REFUSED TO LET HIS SO COMPLETE THE CHKLIST AS PRINTED. ACFT EQUIP PROB HIGH CSD RPM.

Narrative: ACFT WAS TAXIING OUT FOR DEP. THE #2 GENERATOR AND FIELD TRIPPED OFF THE LINE. I PULLED OUT THE CHKLIST AND BEGAN. IT SAID 'CHK CSD AND RPM AND PERMANENT MAGNET GENERATOR VOLTS. RPM WERE 1100-1200 RPM ABOVE NORMAL. LIMITS ON CSD IS PLUS OR MINUS 400 RPM. CHKLIST SAYS 'IF RPM NOT NORMAL, DISCONNECT CSD.' CAPT WANTED TO TRY TO RESET REGARDLESS OF CSD RPM, OVER MY OBJECTIONS, AND REFS TO CHKLIST AND COMPANY PROCS. I ASKED THE CAPT 'DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT GOES AGAINST CHKLIST, LIMITATIONS, COMPANY POLICY?' HE SAID, 'YES! TRY AND PUT IT ON LINE. IF IT HOLDS, WE ARE OUT OF HERE. IF NOT WE WILL FOLLOW PROCS.' I AM CHKING WITH CHIEF PLT AS TO WHAT ONE SHOULD DO IN THIS SIT. HE IS THE CAPT, AND WHAT HE SAYS GOES TO AN EXTENT. THAT NIGHT IN MSP, AFTER WRITING THE #2 CSD/GENERATOR UP, MAINT FOUND A FAULTY GENERATOR CTL UNIT AND REPLACED FAULTY UNIT. ALL IS WELL NOW. NEXT TIME, I MIGHT JUST SAY NO! AND TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES. THE FO WAS NO HELP, HE JUST SAT THERE. NO BACK, JUST LET THE CAPT RAMBLE ON AND DO WHAT HE WANTED. I MIGHT SUGGEST THAT ALL CREW MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS THAT THERE IS TIME TO TALK ABOUT LIKE THIS ONE. I DEFERRED TO CAPT'S AUTH ON THIS DIRECT VIOLATION. THE NEXT DAY I ASKED HIM WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THIS SIT. HE SAID 'JUST WHAT WE DID.' I SAID 'REALLY.' HE SAID,' YOU NEED TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. YOU CAN'T FOLLOW ALL THE REGS OR YOU WOULD NEVER GO FLYING.' I JUST DON'T GET THIS ATTITUDE!!

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.