Fire aboard DAL 757 in TPA

[Long Time Gone]

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. --
Twelve Delta Air Lines passengers suffered minor injuries Monday when their Boeing 757 had to be evacuated when a fireball shot from the engine when it was started, officials said.

Delta flight 1036 to Atlanta was leaving the gate at Tampa International Airport at about 7:15 a.m. when the pilots noticed a small fireball shoot from an engine when it was turned on, said Bill Wade, a Tampa Fire Department spokesman. About 170 people were on the plane.

The evacuation chutes were deployed and some passengers sprained ankles and other minor injuries when they slid down, officials said. They were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said the fire was extinguished immediately. She said the remaining passengers will be put on another flight.

Delta did not immediately return a phone call Monday.

Here's the link

 

[s.o.sJTB]

I think it was just a hot start and an overreactive passenger.

 

[DoinTime]

I think it was just a hot start and an overreactive passenger.

An overreactive passenger ordered the evacuation of a 757?

 

[AAflyer]

The pilots noticed a fire ball shoot from the engine. Is this a 757 they are talking about? You can't see the the engines from the cockpit on the 757 unless the windows are open.

How do pilots see flames shooting from an engine they can't see?

AAflyer

 

[crosscut]

The pilots noticed a fire ball shoot from the engine. Is this a 757 they are talking about? You can't see the the engines from the cockpit on the 757 unless the windows are open.

How do pilots see flames shooting from an engine they can't see?

AAflyer

Also, tail pipe fires have nothing to do with “hot starts." Sounds to me like a “fuel flow before light off” situation,

“Oil pressure rise”
“N1”
(fuel flow)

“Captain, Captain, it’s not igniting!!”
“D.a.m.n. it, the ignition’s off, here you go – now it’s ON” (the candle’s been lit)

The rest (fireball & egress) is history.

I’m not familiar w/ 75’s (if it’s auto ignition & cycles every couple of starts between ignitors or if it’s manual ignition) but am I close?

 

[Bill Mostellar]

An overreactive passenger ordered the evacuation of a 757?

Technically no, but it happens too often.

Many passengers think they know more than the flight crew and will "self initiate" an evacuation at the first hint of a problem. We review it every year during recurrent (or so it seems). Once it starts, it's almost impossible to stop. A Lemming sort of thing.

I wish you success!

 

[rjcap]

Many passengers think they know more than the flight crew and will "self initiate" an evacuation at the first hint of a problem.

Bill,

I find this interesting. Could you explain in a little more detail what happens in this situation.

Thanks

 

[Typhoon1244]

This happened on an Eastern 727 once. The APU torched*, an Air Force colonel by one of the right-side overwing exits noticed it, yanked open the exit and ordered everyone to follow him.

Something similar almost happened on a Chicago Express Saab a while back. It happens...basically because the average passenger is dumber than a bag of wet feathers. (What exactly is it that happens to people when they enter an airport that turns them into slobbering morons?)

The other passengers on that Delta 757 should file a civil suit against the nimrod that opened the exit. Delta should sue him, too, for the cost of the cancelled flight and the maintenance associated with reinstalling the exit and slides. And I haven't even mentioned the fact that he endangered people lives by initiating an evacuation into the exhaust of an operating engine!

Throw the book at him!

[/rant]

 

[EagleRJ]

I heard that this happened once on a 727 that was taxiing. They're rolling down the taxiway at 40MPH, and the tower tells them to stop- the people are getting off. The APU had torched, and someone decided the plane was on fire and it was time to leave. People were rolling into the grass after sliding down the escape slides! I don't think anyone was hurt.

That's one of the reasons most newer airliners now have indications up front for all the emergency exits.

 

[VampyreGTX]

This is from CNN.com:


Startled passengers flee using plane's escape chutes


Delta Flight 1036 experienced what is called a "hot start" after pulling back from the gate at Tampa International Airport and starting its engines, said spokeswoman Catherine Stengel.

"That's when flames come out of the engine. It is normal," she said.

"But a few of the passengers got nervous about it and elected to pull the chutes and go out through the chutes," she added. "If they know how to do it, they can. And they did."

Some passengers who used the chutes suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital, Stengel said.

Stengel said the chutes automatically deploy when the cabin door is opened in a potential emergency.

The flight's remaining passengers deplaned normally, she said.

Usually in a Boeing 757, Flight 1036 is a regularly scheduled flight between Tampa and Atlanta, Georgia. Its scheduled departure time was 7:05 a.m. EDT.

Stengel said Monday morning's passengers were put on another flight.

 

[eddie]

I remember this happening to a United Flight out of MSP a few years ago. Some passengers saw the "fireball" and decided to leave through the overwing exits.

Apparently the flight crew found out it was happening when the pushback mechanics informed them there were approx. 5 people standing on the recently deiced wing. Luckily though no one slid off and the Flight Attendants coaxed the passengers back inside.

 

[Typhoon1244]

This is from CNN.com: Delta Flight 1036 experienced what is called a "hot start" after pulling back from the gate at Tampa International Airport and starting its engines, said spokeswoman Catherine Stengel. "That's when flames come out of the engine. It is normal," she said.

"Hot starts" are normal, huh? Guess that's why it's in the Emergency Procedures on my airplane.

 

[skootertrash]

Just how in the Hell do pax see a flame from an APU in a 727? Last I knew it was near the tail?

 

[Flight_Line]

The APU exhaust on the 727 is about the middle of the right wing close to fusealage or at least close to there.

 

[metrodriver]

The 727 APU is mounted on the forward bulhead between the main gear wheel wells, with the intake in the left wheel well, and the exhaust goes through a louvre on the top of the right wing, about 2 or 3 feet from the fuselage, just forward of the emergency exits. The position of the intake also prohibits the apu from operating when airborne

 

[Typhoon1244]

Just how in the Hell do pax see a flame from an APU in a 727? Last I knew it was near the tail?

originally posted by metrodriver
The 727 APU is mounted on the forward bulhead between the main gear wheel wells, with the intake in the left wheel well, and the exhaust goes through a louvre on the top of the right wing, about 2 or 3 feet from the fuselage, just forward of the emergency exits.

That's how...

 

[DarnNearaJet]

I think the next time I fly I'll ask the F/O to "turn on" the right engine.

 

[ReportCanoa]

Gee, what a nightmare. Luckily they weren't ingested by the other engine, which may have been running. That guy better retain a lawyer...

 

[NuGuy]

Hi all,

Just to clarify:

Metrodriver is correct. The 727 APU is underneath, between the wheelwheel. Its mounted transversely with the intake in the left well and the exhaust in top of the right wing, near the root.

Most 727 operators have bulletins regarding APU torching and the causes, such as pooling of de-ice fluid. Torching in the daytime really isn't an issue for un-intended evacs, but at night it can be because any torching can be readily seen.

FlyChicaga, the openings you might be thinking of are either the pack fans or exhaust. Both have automatic doors, although the exhaust has the lovures...and they were loud.

The lemming analogy is perfectly true for un-intended evacs. One person flips out and the rest follow them off the wing, usually ignoring commands from the cabin and/or flight crew.

IMO, DAL would be within their rights to go after the guy/gal that started this one.

Best,
Nu

 

[Typhoon1244]

At ASA, part of the rejected takeoff procedure calls for the Captain to announce (at least) "ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats" after the parking brake is set. The hope is that the announcement might prevent an "auto-evacuation" like this from happening.

I imagine other companies probably have something similar...