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When dispatched with one generator inoperative the flight crew of a B737-800 was forced to divert to their nearest suitable airport when the APU; required to be operative to provide a secondary electrical power source; failed enroute.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 993427 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201202 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-800 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | APU |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Total 13000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
Legal placard of #1 generator; APU operation required for back up generator per MEL. APU serviced prior to initial departure per logbook placard and an uneventful first leg was completed. On the next leg; about 45 minutes from destination the APU failed which resulted in a single electrical power source operation. The QRH directs a landing at the nearest suitable airport. I deemed ZZZ the nearest suitable for landing; declared an emergency for priority handling and landed. I commend my first officer for his outstanding assistance during this event. In the future; I will consider day/night and weather considerations before accepting an aircraft with a deferred generator. There should be weather minima associated with the placarding of a generator to prevent this from occurring again.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: When dispatched with one generator inoperative the flight crew of a B737-800 was forced to divert to their nearest suitable airport when the APU; required to be operative to provide a secondary electrical power source; failed enroute.
Narrative: Legal placard of #1 Generator; APU operation required for back up generator per MEL. APU serviced prior to initial departure per logbook placard and an uneventful first leg was completed. On the next leg; about 45 minutes from destination the APU failed which resulted in a single electrical power source operation. The QRH directs a landing at the nearest suitable airport. I deemed ZZZ the nearest suitable for landing; declared an emergency for priority handling and landed. I commend my First Officer for his outstanding assistance during this event. In the future; I will consider day/night and weather considerations before accepting an aircraft with a deferred generator. There should be weather minima associated with the placarding of a generator to prevent this from occurring again.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.