Narrative:

During climb out from slc passing approximately 10000 ft, the left generator failed and left generator off light illuminated. APU would not start during climb through approximately 16000 ft. I declared an emergency, in order to receive priority handling, and requested clearance back to slc. The APU did start at a lower altitude of approximately 13000 ft. I canceled the emergency and requested a clearance to continue to dfw. I sent a notice of my decision to continue the flight to dispatch and received their concurrence. The flight was continued to dfw with the right engine generator and APU generator operating. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: it was assumed that the APU was cold soaked to some degree preventing a timely start.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 EMER DECLARATION FOR LOSS OF A GENERATOR IS CANCELED AFTER SUCCESSFULLY STARTING A BALKY APU TO PROVIDE A SECOND GENERATOR.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT FROM SLC PASSING APPROX 10000 FT, THE L GENERATOR FAILED AND L GENERATOR OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. APU WOULD NOT START DURING CLB THROUGH APPROX 16000 FT. I DECLARED AN EMER, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE PRIORITY HANDLING, AND REQUESTED CLRNC BACK TO SLC. THE APU DID START AT A LOWER ALT OF APPROX 13000 FT. I CANCELED THE EMER AND REQUESTED A CLRNC TO CONTINUE TO DFW. I SENT A NOTICE OF MY DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLT TO DISPATCH AND RECEIVED THEIR CONCURRENCE. THE FLT WAS CONTINUED TO DFW WITH THE R ENG GENERATOR AND APU GENERATOR OPERATING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THE APU WAS COLD SOAKED TO SOME DEGREE PREVENTING A TIMELY 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.