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An MD80 returned to the field due to APU ingesting oil and causing fumes in the cabin. Found oil cap was not installed on APU during overnight servicing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 658400 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200505 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : maintenance |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | maintenance : technician |
| ASRS Report | 658400 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other other other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | contributing factor : lighting contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : installation |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Maintenance Human Performance |
Narrative:
While servicing the APU oil on aircraft X during an overnight check; I failed to install the oil cap. This caused oil to blow out of the tank and get ingested by the APU; causing an APU shutdown; fumes in the cabin and an air interrupt. It is my suggestion that the oil tank caps on MD80 APU's have the restraining chain removed and be painted a bright color. As they are; if the cap is not installed; it is not easily seen or noticed prior to closing the access door. If the cap were completely loose from the APU when removed; it would be placed on a stand or on the surrounding ground while servicing. If it were not installed prior to closing the door; it would be seen and easily remembered. This could help prevent a future occurrence of this type.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 RETURNED TO THE FIELD DUE TO APU INGESTING OIL AND CAUSING FUMES IN THE CABIN. FOUND OIL CAP WAS NOT INSTALLED ON APU DURING OVERNIGHT SVCING.
Narrative: WHILE SVCING THE APU OIL ON ACFT X DURING AN OVERNIGHT CHK; I FAILED TO INSTALL THE OIL CAP. THIS CAUSED OIL TO BLOW OUT OF THE TANK AND GET INGESTED BY THE APU; CAUSING AN APU SHUTDOWN; FUMES IN THE CABIN AND AN AIR INTERRUPT. IT IS MY SUGGESTION THAT THE OIL TANK CAPS ON MD80 APU'S HAVE THE RESTRAINING CHAIN REMOVED AND BE PAINTED A BRIGHT COLOR. AS THEY ARE; IF THE CAP IS NOT INSTALLED; IT IS NOT EASILY SEEN OR NOTICED PRIOR TO CLOSING THE ACCESS DOOR. IF THE CAP WERE COMPLETELY LOOSE FROM THE APU WHEN REMOVED; IT WOULD BE PLACED ON A STAND OR ON THE SURROUNDING GND WHILE SVCING. IF IT WERE NOT INSTALLED PRIOR TO CLOSING THE DOOR; IT WOULD BE SEEN AND EASILY REMEMBERED. THIS COULD HELP PREVENT A FUTURE OCCURRENCE OF THIS TYPE.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.