MD80 flight attendant observed smoke at the rear of the aircraft, outside on the ramp.

Attributes
ACN	421987
Time
Date	199811
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mdw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	other other : other
ASRS Report	421987
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

As flight attendant #4 in aft part of main cabin, I noticed a substantial amount of smoke coming from engine area on right side of airplane. Passenger questioned myself and #2 flight attendant. The #2 flight attendant explained it was torching which was normal and sometimes did occur. I just xferred to domestic 6 weeks earlier and flew this plane for the first time last month. I normally flew B727 caribbean out of miami. I believe torching applies only to B727 aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT ATTENDANT OBSERVED SMOKE AT THE REAR OF THE ACFT, OUTSIDE ON THE RAMP.

Narrative: AS FLT ATTENDANT #4 IN AFT PART OF MAIN CABIN, I NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM ENG AREA ON R SIDE OF AIRPLANE. PAX QUESTIONED MYSELF AND #2 FLT ATTENDANT. THE #2 FLT ATTENDANT EXPLAINED IT WAS TORCHING WHICH WAS NORMAL AND SOMETIMES DID OCCUR. I JUST XFERRED TO DOMESTIC 6 WKS EARLIER AND FLEW THIS PLANE FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST MONTH. I NORMALLY FLEW B727 CARIBBEAN OUT OF MIAMI. I BELIEVE TORCHING APPLIES ONLY TO B727 ACFT.

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.