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The lavatory smoke detectors on a B757-200 all alarmed during an engine start using an external air cart because the air entering the cabin was polluted by exhaust from nearby equipment. The aircraft was evacuated at the gate while the smoke source was determined.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 820782 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200901 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 12000 Flight Crew Type 4200 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Flight Attendant (On Duty) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor Other Lavatory Smoke Alarms |
Narrative:
APU inoperative. In preparation of starting the left engine using ground pneumatic air; all lavatory smoke alarms started sounding. Flight attendant called cockpit informing us of the smoke detector alarms going off. We communicated back to check for visual fire. Flight attendant reported back that no fire was observed. Captain got out of his seat to check the first class lavatory. He then quickly called station to have the jet bridge brought back. After the jet bridge was in place; all passengers deplaned through door 1L. Fire department was informed and requested for service. About 7 minutes after the call; crash fire rescue arrived and walked the airplane with testing equipment and concluded no fire. After the ground pneumatic unit was removed; the alarms stopped and the air seemed more clear then. It appears that the source of air from the ground pneumatic unit was polluted with exhaust from nearby engine ground equipment and causing the lavatory fire alarms to activate. After crash fire rescue personnel; maintenance; and local station personnel had concluded that it was safe to continue passenger operations; we started engines with a different ground pneumatic unit and flew uneventfully with all passengers on board again.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: The lavatory smoke detectors on a B757-200 all alarmed during an engine start using an external air cart because the air entering the cabin was polluted by exhaust from nearby equipment. The aircraft was evacuated at the gate while the smoke source was determined.
Narrative: APU inoperative. In preparation of starting the left engine using ground pneumatic air; all lavatory smoke alarms started sounding. Flight Attendant called cockpit informing us of the smoke detector alarms going off. We communicated back to check for visual fire. Flight Attendant reported back that no fire was observed. Captain got out of his seat to check the First Class lavatory. He then quickly called station to have the jet bridge brought back. After the jet bridge was in place; all passengers deplaned through Door 1L. Fire Department was informed and requested for service. About 7 minutes after the call; Crash Fire Rescue arrived and walked the airplane with testing equipment and concluded NO fire. After the ground pneumatic unit was removed; the alarms stopped and the air seemed more clear then. It appears that the source of air from the ground pneumatic unit was polluted with exhaust from nearby engine ground equipment and causing the lavatory fire alarms to activate. After Crash Fire Rescue personnel; Maintenance; and local station personnel had concluded that it was safe to continue passenger operations; we started engines with a different ground pneumatic unit and flew uneventfully with all passengers on board again.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.