Narrative:

I was the first officer on air carrier flight xyz, MD88 service on dec/xa/98. While taxiing for takeoff, the second (right engine) was started, but failed to start since the ignition switch was left off. The engine was motored for approximately 20 seconds before a second start was attempted. A hot start and subsequent tailpipe fire resulted. Our only indications of a tailpipe fire were from ATC (tower) and a commuter airplane behind us. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the #2 engine was started but the ignition was left in the off position resulting in the tailpipe accumulating excess fuel. The reporter said the engine was dry motored for 20 seconds then the ignition was turned on which started the tailpipe fire and resultant high egt exceeding limits. The reporter said the aircraft taxiing behind and the tower advised of the tailpipe fire. The reporter stated the tower alerted the crash fire rescue equipment equipment and the aircraft was evacuate/evacuationed on the taxiway. Supplemental information from acn 424304: during the delayed start of #2 engine, the egt exceeded limits and the engine was shut down. Extending motor time on engine will help in cooling/clearing engine to prevent subsequent hot start.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 ON TXWY ATTEMPTED TO START #2 ENG WITH THE IGNITION OFF. NEXT ATTEMPT RESULTED IN A TAILPIPE FIRE. ACFT TAXIING BEHIND RPTED FIRE AND TWR ALERTED CFR UNITS. ACFT EVACED ON TXWY.

Narrative: I WAS THE FO ON ACR FLT XYZ, MD88 SVC ON DEC/XA/98. WHILE TAXIING FOR TKOF, THE SECOND (R ENG) WAS STARTED, BUT FAILED TO START SINCE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LEFT OFF. THE ENG WAS MOTORED FOR APPROX 20 SECONDS BEFORE A SECOND START WAS ATTEMPTED. A HOT START AND SUBSEQUENT TAILPIPE FIRE RESULTED. OUR ONLY INDICATIONS OF A TAILPIPE FIRE WERE FROM ATC (TWR) AND A COMMUTER AIRPLANE BEHIND US. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE #2 ENG WAS STARTED BUT THE IGNITION WAS LEFT IN THE OFF POS RESULTING IN THE TAILPIPE ACCUMULATING EXCESS FUEL. THE RPTR SAID THE ENG WAS DRY MOTORED FOR 20 SECONDS THEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON WHICH STARTED THE TAILPIPE FIRE AND RESULTANT HIGH EGT EXCEEDING LIMITS. THE RPTR SAID THE ACFT TAXIING BEHIND AND THE TWR ADVISED OF THE TAILPIPE FIRE. THE RPTR STATED THE TWR ALERTED THE CFR EQUIP AND THE ACFT WAS EVACED ON THE TXWY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 424304: DURING THE DELAYED START OF #2 ENG, THE EGT EXCEEDED LIMITS AND THE ENG WAS SHUT DOWN. EXTENDING MOTOR TIME ON ENG WILL HELP IN COOLING/CLRING ENG TO PREVENT SUBSEQUENT HOT START.

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.