Narrative:

Air carrier X had a maintenance carry-over item -- external power inoperative. Upon taxi in to ZZZ; we asked operations if they wanted the APU shut down for our extended situation. Our external power was inoperative. Operations said they would get back to us. We taxied to the gate with the APU running and completed the shutdown check. I started a walkaround and found several ramp agents and mechanics around the external power access door. They related that someone had connected external power to the aircraft and that some sparks came from panel until external power was disconnected. I made a logbook write-up and maintenance inspected the aircraft. 'Inoperative' placard was posted on external power access door.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 WITH THE GND PWR INOP PER THE MEL. STATION ADVISED. WHEN ON GATE; GND PERSONNEL ATTEMPT TO CONNECT GND PWR. GET SPARKS UNTIL DISCONNECTED.

Narrative: ACR X HAD A MAINT CARRY-OVER ITEM -- EXTERNAL PWR INOP. UPON TAXI IN TO ZZZ; WE ASKED OPS IF THEY WANTED THE APU SHUT DOWN FOR OUR EXTENDED SIT. OUR EXTERNAL PWR WAS INOP. OPS SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US. WE TAXIED TO THE GATE WITH THE APU RUNNING AND COMPLETED THE SHUTDOWN CHK. I STARTED A WALKAROUND AND FOUND SEVERAL RAMP AGENTS AND MECHS AROUND THE EXTERNAL PWR ACCESS DOOR. THEY RELATED THAT SOMEONE HAD CONNECTED EXTERNAL PWR TO THE ACFT AND THAT SOME SPARKS CAME FROM PANEL UNTIL EXTERNAL PWR WAS DISCONNECTED. I MADE A LOGBOOK WRITE-UP AND MAINT INSPECTED THE ACFT. 'INOP' PLACARD WAS POSTED ON EXTERNAL PWR ACCESS DOOR.

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.