B737-800 flight crew reported a main deck fire warning while parked at the cargo facility. The flight crew evacuated the aircraft. It was determined that the deicing crew sprayed deicing fluid into the APU inlet; causing fumes to sent into the aircraft; simulating smoke from a fire.
Synopsis
B737-800 flight crew reported a main deck fire warning while parked at the cargo facility. The flight crew evacuated the aircraft. It was determined that the deicing crew sprayed deicing fluid into the APU inlet; causing fumes to sent into the aircraft; simulating smoke from a fire.
Narrative
We were on the ramp in ZZZ at approximately XA35z. (Engines not running). The First Officer and I just completed the supplementary procedure with respect to Deicing. We coordinated with the Deicing personnel via frequency XXX.XX. The deicing personnel was instructed by me to spray the aircraft with Type I and Type IV fluid full body. After the aircraft was sprayed the deicing personnel notified us with the time; application of fluid; brand and mixture. I called for the completion of the supplementary procedure. Approximately one minute after a fire warning appeared with a main deck cargo fire. I instructed the First Officer to take out the Cargo Fire (Main) Quick Reference Checklist (QRC) and shortly thereafter I also instructed the First Officer that an evacuation will be necessary momentarily. Time was of the essence and I said let's open the flight deck door to get moving; we saw smoke entering the cockpit. The First officer immediately closed the flight deck door. I instructed the First Officer that we will evacuate immediately through the flight deck window. The First officer opened his window and in the interest of saving time; I reached for First Officer's escape rope so that we could evacuate quicker. The First Officer exited first and when I saw he made it safely on the ground I subsequently went after. Prior to leaving; I turned the APU off. I made it safely to the ground. The Fire trucks arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Deicing Fluid sprayed in the APU inlet door. This triggered the main deck cargo fire. Have more oversight on the outsourced vendors and perhaps have a Company employed personnel physically present to monitor the procedures that are compliant with Company. Retrain the Deicing vendors.
Second reporter narrative
On DATE on the ramp in ZZZ at approximately XA:30 am local time the Captain and I had finished running the supplementary procedure for de-icing on the ramp. The Captain had instructed the deicing crew to spray Type I and Type IV fluid to the full body. Upon completion the deicing crew notified us the final application was initiated at XB:13 am local and completed at XC:28 am local. At that time we were preparing to push back and start the engines up when all of the sudden we got a Fire Warning annunciation on the annunciator panel. We both looked down at the fire panel and saw that it was a Main Deck Cargo fire warning. I reached for the Cargo Fire (Main) Quick Reference Checklist (QRC) and was about to start running through the checklist when the Captain instructed me to prepare to open the forward main cabin door in preparation for evacuation. When I got up and opened the flight deck access door the supernumerary cabin was filled with thick white smoke to which I immediately closed the flight deck access door and notified the Captain.The Captain turned around and noticed the thick white smoke that was now filling the cockpit around the flight deck access door and through various other gaps and holes around the cockpit. At that time we both agreed that the best course of action would be to go out the side window via the escape rope. The Captain instructed me to evacuate out the flight deck side window utilizing the escape rope. While I was opening up my side window to evacuate he reached up and opened my escape rope compartment and handed it to me allowing me to throw it out the window and egress quicker. Upon egressing out the window I notified the ground crew that we had a Main Deck Cargo Fire warning in the cockpit and to call for assistance. I then immediately turned around to help the Captain egress out the window and down to me on the ground. Shortly thereafter the Fire trucks were on scene and they started to investigate the aircraft. Based on what was observed as well as what the mechanics saw and relayed to us during their investigation; it would appear that de-icing fluid was sprayed directly into the APU inlet. Keep all operations in house and train contractors/employees better.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.