S80 crew decides to fly an aircraft with low APU air pressure. They now have doubts about whether th...

Attributes
ACN	344720
Time
Date	199608
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdl
State Reference	CT
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	MD-80 Super 80
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
ASRS Report	344720
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As we were pushing back, we were cleared for engine start. After shutting off the packs, I found we only had 20 psi starting pressure which is below the minimum start psi. I requested a start cart and we accomplished a normal start off the gate. I reviewed the MEL and made my decision to continue the flight. The APU was operating normally except for the low pneumatic psi. While in cruise, I started to question myself on whether I had made the right decision. This is because flight crew placarding is not permitted for pneumatics inoperative on APU. But the pneumatics psi was low, not inoperative. I still question myself if I made the right decision or screwed up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S80 CREW DECIDES TO FLY AN ACFT WITH LOW APU AIR PRESSURE. THEY NOW HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER THIS WAS PROPER.

Narrative: AS WE WERE PUSHING BACK, WE WERE CLRED FOR ENG START. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE PACKS, I FOUND WE ONLY HAD 20 PSI STARTING PRESSURE WHICH IS BELOW THE MINIMUM START PSI. I REQUESTED A START CART AND WE ACCOMPLISHED A NORMAL START OFF THE GATE. I REVIEWED THE MEL AND MADE MY DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLT. THE APU WAS OPERATING NORMALLY EXCEPT FOR THE LOW PNEUMATIC PSI. WHILE IN CRUISE, I STARTED TO QUESTION MYSELF ON WHETHER I HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. THIS IS BECAUSE FLC PLACARDING IS NOT PERMITTED FOR PNEUMATICS INOP ON APU. BUT THE PNEUMATICS PSI WAS LOW, NOT INOP. I STILL QUESTION MYSELF IF I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION OR SCREWED UP.

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.

S80 crew decides to fly an aircraft with low APU air pressure. They now have doubts about whether this was proper.