An ATR72 captain refused an aircraft because an engine had an abnormal start behavior history entere...

Narrative:

This aircraft has a continuing problem starting the #1 engine. On start the nh will spool up normally until around 40% then hangs to the point of almost having to abort the start. This aircraft has been written up 7 times for this same problem and each time maintenance states ops check good; or no defect noted. Having been one of the four captains to note this problem; I refused this aircraft after I watched it start the same way four times in a row; written up and maintenance still says there is no defect noted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An ATR72 Captain refused an aircraft because an engine had an abnormal start behavior history entered in the maintenance log book seven times but maintenance personnel considered the behavior normal and acceptable.

Narrative: This aircraft has a continuing problem starting the #1 engine. On start the Nh will spool up normally until around 40% then hangs to the point of almost having to abort the start. This aircraft has been written up 7 times for this same problem and each time maintenance states Ops Check good; or no defect noted. Having been one of the four Captains to note this problem; I refused this aircraft after I watched it start the same way four times in a row; written up and maintenance still says there is no defect noted.

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.

Attributes
ACN	894655
Time
Date	201006
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Environment
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	ATR 72
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Maintenance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

An ATR72 captain refused an aircraft because an engine had an abnormal start behavior history entered in the maintenance log book seven times but maintenance personnel considered the behavior normal and acceptable.