Narrative:

After waiting in the lineup for about 15 minutes we were cleared onto runway xxc to hold. The clearance to taxi into position and hold was given as soon as the preceding aircraft had been cleared for takeoff and included the fact that we would be holding for a runway xyr arrival. I taxied the aircraft into position on xxc and transferred aircraft control to the first officer. The first officer acknowledged that he had the aircraft. At this point I moved my attention back outside the aircraft; watching the traffic on short final for xyr; anticipating that we would be cleared for takeoff after it landed. Just a moment after the transfer of aircraft control; the #1 engine shut down. I saw the master caution illuminate and heard the (very recognizable) sound of an engine shutdown. The first thing I said was; 'why did the engine flame out?' the first officer immediately told me; 'sorry; I got the #1 engine start lever when I was setting the parking brake.' I told the tower controller we needed to get off the runway to work on a problem. We had not been cleared for takeoff so the controller simply told us to turn right; taxi clear; and rejoin the lineup or contact ground to return to the gate. I taxied the aircraft back into the lineup; started the APU; went through a normal engine start; did our after start flows; and re-ran the before taxi and before takeoff checklists. The rest of our flight was uneventful. The only analysis I want to offer on this is to say I have the habit of not setting the parking brake while on the runway. The 'other aircraft' that I fly is configured so that the first officer (copilot; right-seater) cannot release the parking brake. (Before I came to company; I'd never actually seen anyone set an aircraft's parking brake while on an active runway.) if the first officer plans to set the parking brake on the runway after our transfer of aircraft control; he has to make a bit of an awkward reach-around to reach and move the parking brake lever.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reports an accidental engine shut down on the runway by the First Officer as he is setting the parking brake. Aircraft is taxied clear and the engine restarted.

Narrative: After waiting in the lineup for about 15 minutes we were cleared onto Runway XXC to hold. The clearance to taxi into position and hold was given as soon as the preceding aircraft had been cleared for takeoff and included the fact that we would be holding for a Runway XYR arrival. I taxied the aircraft into position on XXC and transferred aircraft control to the First Officer. The First Officer acknowledged that he had the aircraft. At this point I moved my attention back outside the aircraft; watching the traffic on short final for XYR; anticipating that we would be cleared for takeoff after it landed. Just a moment after the transfer of aircraft control; the #1 engine shut down. I saw the Master Caution illuminate and heard the (very recognizable) sound of an engine shutdown. The first thing I said was; 'Why did the engine flame out?' The First Officer immediately told me; 'Sorry; I got the #1 engine start lever when I was setting the parking brake.' I told the Tower Controller we needed to get off the runway to work on a problem. We had not been cleared for takeoff so the Controller simply told us to turn right; taxi clear; and rejoin the lineup or contact Ground to return to the gate. I taxied the aircraft back into the lineup; started the APU; went through a normal engine start; did our after start flows; and re-ran the Before Taxi and Before Takeoff checklists. The rest of our flight was uneventful. The only analysis I want to offer on this is to say I have the habit of not setting the parking brake while on the runway. The 'other aircraft' that I fly is configured so that the First Officer (Copilot; right-seater) cannot release the parking brake. (Before I came to Company; I'd never actually seen anyone set an aircraft's parking brake while on an active runway.) If the First Officer plans to set the parking brake on the runway after our transfer of aircraft control; he has to make a bit of an awkward reach-around to reach and move the parking brake lever.

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.