Citation engine pods and fires

[getonit]

I work in a sim training environment and hear a bunch of different "theories" some of them wackier than others. The one that is bugging me right now is you don't really need to do anything with a fire engine light. I agree you don't need to do anything quickly but to do nothing (not even engine to idle to check bleed air leak) and let the engine just fall off is nonsense. Where do these theories come from and I have heard it several times, in the minority, but they have convinced themselves it is OK. Has anybody seen documentation on this or is this just an old hangar flying story?

 

[JetPilot500]

I can't say I've ever heard anyone really mean "let the engine burn off the airplane." I think that comment was always intended to get people to slow down with their procedures. If you have and engine burning at V1, the point is to "FLY THE AIRPLANE." With the engines out on the pylons, they will not lead to a fire that spreads into the aft compartment or anywhere else. Which is why you hear people say, "let the engine burn off."

You have time. Don't let it go indefinately, but don't rush either. Get the airplane to a safe position. Keep it running if it will run to get you up to a safe altitude. When your flight path and altitude permit, then run your procedures. It would suck to fly into a mountain while trying to fight an engine fire when all you might have had was a bleed air leak. Also, don't let economics force you to try and shut the engine down too quickly. Just because it may cost a lot to fix the damage from a bleed leak, don't let that push your decision to shut it down at VR and then kill your climb performance and create additional risks.


Good Luck,
JetPilot500

 

[Hippie]

Before V1 abort and tend to it ASAP

After V1 verbally acknowledge it to your co-pilot, get the bird airborne, use the remaining thrust to climb on up to a safe altitude then pull out the QRC and shut the thing down.

Cruise, tend to it ASAP

At the gate call the Fire Dept and head for the bar.

Hippie

 

[falconman]

I agree with the jetpilot500 and hippie, you don't want to rush anything on a fire light. You start pulling it back right after liftoff, you might have a good operating engine with a faulty fire system or if it’s a bleed air leak, you could use the thrust to get you to a safe altitude.
I’ve been going to FSI on the 550 and 560's for 8 years and I always heard the same thing was to "let it burn until you get to a safe altitude". Hope this helps....