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| Title: | Tailpipe fire on start, Boeing 747-400, 9M-MPD |
| Micro summary: | On engine start, this Boeing 747 had a tailpipe fire. |
| Event Time: | 1998-09-29 at 0940 UTC |
| File Name: | 1998-09-29-UK.pdf |
| Publishing Agency: | Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) |
| Publishing Country: | United Kingdom |
| Report number: | EW/G98/09/20 |
| Pages: | 2 |
| Site of event: | London Heathrow Airport |
| Departure: | London Heathrow Airport, London, England, United Kingdom |
| Destination: | Unknown |
| Airplane Type(s): | Boeing 747-400 |
| Flight Phase: | Taxi |
| Registration(s): | 9M-MPD |
| Operator(s): | Malaysia Airlines |
| Type of flight: | Revenue |
| Occupants: | 379 |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Serious Injuries: | 24 |
| Minor/Non-Injured: | 377 |
| Other Injuries: | 0 |
| Executive Summary: | The aircraft had just been pushed back from Stand J8, where Nos 1 and 4 engines had already been started due to the auxiliary power unit being unserviceable, into 'Juliet' cul-de-sac. During the subsequent start sequence for the No 3 engine, the ground crew observed that a fire had started in the jet pipe and immediately alerted the commander. Although no evacuation command had been given, a passenger seated towards the rear of the cabin left his seat and opened door 5L (ie the rearmost door on the left side) which resulted in a 'door open' indication on the flight deck. The door slide deployed, the passenger in question used it to leave the aircraft and he was followed by a number of other passengers. The ground crew immediately informed the flight deck of the evacuation that was in progress and, concerned by the potential danger posed by the jet efflux to these passengers on the ground, the pilots immediately shutdown all engines. Airfield Operations personnel, who were in a nearby vehicle, together with airline staff and the tug crew attempted to make these passengers lie on the ground until the danger from jet efflux had ceased. All of the evacuated passengers, two of whom had suffered minor injuries, were taken into the terminal via Stand J6, and the passenger responsible for opening the aircraft door was later interviewed by the police. The Airfield Fire Service promptly arrived at the aircraft and confirmed that the jet pipe fire had extinguished. The aircraft was then prepared for a return to the stand, where the crew and remaining passengers disembarked normally. The jet pipe fire had caused damage to the right hand high speed aileron and right/outboard aft flap section, which required replacement, and the No 7 'boat fairing' had to be removed (in accordance with the Minimum Equipment List) prior to the aircraft's departure several days later. In addition, temporary repairs were required to the right/outboard mid and fore-flap sections. The investigation of the No 3 engine was co-ordinated with the airline's maintenance base in Malaysia. There were no indications from the aircraft's Central Maintenance Computer that any engine limitations, such as exhaust gas temperature, had been exceeded. Accordingly it was decided to conduct a manual start on the engine which was accomplished successfully and the engine then ran normally. However as a precaution the fuel management unit, the electronic engine control and the fuel pump were all changed prior to the aircraft being despatched with 'auto start inoperative' placards, applicable to all engines, placed on the flight deck. The removed components were forwarded to their respective manufacturers for examination. The auto start system was subsequently reinstated and operated satisfactorily. Although it is considered possible that the fire occurred as a result of pooled fuel from the previous shutdown, the engine manufacturer has not yet reported back to the airline as to whether this was due to any defects in the components removed for examination. |
| Learning Keywords: | Operations - Evacuation |
| Systems - Engine Fire |
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