<< >> NASA ASRS Report 760585, November 2007

A B737-300 pilot reports an APU automatic shutdown with a fire indication during taxi out. They did not have the flight attendant's prep for possible evacuation. Aircraft returned to gate after crash fire rescue equipment inspection.

Attributes
ACN	760585
Time
Date	200711
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 137 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	760585
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : apu fire warning other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Taxiing out we received first an APU fault/detent failure warning; and then we received an APU fire light with a master warning light and fire horn. We pulled the handle and discharged the bottle; ran the checklist; asked aircraft behind us to confirm no fire; declared an emergency and called for trucks; informed flight attendants and passenger. We told the flight attendants that we thought it was just an indication problem but we did not tell them to be prepared to evacuate/evacuation or take any further action. I believed that it was just an indication; but should have gone further to prepare the flight attendants. Fire trucks confirmed no sign of fire so we proceeded back to the gate. Take more time to ensure that all the crew is properly prepared for the indications we have.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 PILOT REPORTS AN APU AUTO SHUTDOWN WITH A FIRE INDICATION DURING TAXI OUT. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE FA'S PREP FOR POSSIBLE EVACUATION. ACFT RETURNED TO GATE AFTER CFR INSPECTION.

Narrative: TAXIING OUT WE RECEIVED FIRST AN APU FAULT/DETENT FAILURE WARNING; AND THEN WE RECEIVED AN APU FIRE LIGHT WITH A MASTER WARNING LIGHT AND FIRE HORN. WE PULLED THE HANDLE AND DISCHARGED THE BOTTLE; RAN THE CHKLIST; ASKED ACFT BEHIND US TO CONFIRM NO FIRE; DECLARED AN EMER AND CALLED FOR TRUCKS; INFORMED FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX. WE TOLD THE FLT ATTENDANTS THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN INDICATION PROB BUT WE DID NOT TELL THEM TO BE PREPARED TO EVAC OR TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. I BELIEVED THAT IT WAS JUST AN INDICATION; BUT SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER TO PREPARE THE FLT ATTENDANTS. FIRE TRUCKS CONFIRMED NO SIGN OF FIRE SO WE PROCEEDED BACK TO THE GATE. TAKE MORE TIME TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE CREW IS PROPERLY PREPARED FOR THE INDICATIONS WE HAVE.

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.