Incident Overview
A Boeing 737 crew encountered an auxiliary power unit (APU) malfunction during descent and later during landing at Newark, New Jersey. The initial attempt to start the APU during descent was unsuccessful. After touchdown, during the landing roll, a second attempt to start the APU resulted in an illuminated fire warning light.
Crew Response
The flight crew discharged the fire bottle, but the warning light remained on. The captain ordered an evacuation while the aircraft was parked on a taxiway. Some passengers exited through the overwing exits without crew assistance, and several reported injuries while climbing onto the wing.
Post-Inspection Findings
A subsequent inspection of the APU revealed no evidence of fire damage. However, laboratory testing identified the following conditions: turbine blades were burned and eroded, the fuel control cracking pressure was set higher than specified, and the electrical harness wires leading to the fuel solenoid connector were reversed.
Injuries and Damage
The source does not specify the number or severity of passenger injuries. No damage to the aircraft was reported beyond the APU findings.