ERJ 170 Captain and Flight Attendant reported boarding an extremely hot aircraft with the APU inoperative. Aircraft was deplaned and flight operated in different aircraft.
Synopsis
ERJ 170 Captain and Flight Attendant reported boarding an extremely hot aircraft with the APU inoperative. Aircraft was deplaned and flight operated in different aircraft.
Narrative
Received airplane with a deferred APU. We stepped onto the aircraft with ground power and no conditioned air. The cabin indicated 35C on the environmental control system (ECS) page. We asked the ground crew for air; conducted a crew briefing; and considered our options. The ground crew told us that the bridge air wasn't working; and they would need to get us a cart. The flight attendant (FA) asked when it would get here; and was told it was on the other side of the airport. We opened all cabin doors; and the FAs guarded them until they were closed. I called Dispatch to discuss the situation. With that info we decided to hold boarding. I went up the jet ridge past 2 groups of passengers and told the gate agent to hold boarding. I came back down and offered the passengers to deplane; but they had already checked some assistance devices and elected to remain on board.The ground crew finally brought a working air conditioning cart; and it's flow was weak. I could feel cool air coming out of the graspers; but was confident it would not be enough to cool the cabin; especially with XX passengers. I felt this was the best we were gonna get and decided to board. I briefed the FAs to perform a water service once boarding is complete; and I went to the gate. I made a PA to the passengers; telling them the cabin Indicated 95F and would stay that hot until an engine was started. We boarded and closed.The ran the procedure for external air start. The ATIS OAT was 32C; and the required duct pressure was determined to be 35PSI. Ground crew informed us they needed to disconnect the air conditioning before we could start. I observed 36-37 and we received clearance to start. We started #2. The start began normal with slightly slower N2 increase and rising Interstage Turbine Temperature (ITT). ITT eventually reached the start limit and Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) aborted. We ran the QRC+QRH; and decided a 2nd start attempt. The cooldown was complied with; a call made to the cabin; and PA to the passengers. I was informed everyone seemed in good spirits; water was supplied; but there were 3 screaming infants. A positive space pilot informed A FA that he wanted to speak to the Captain; and we were notified of this request.On the 2nd engine start I made a mental note of some performance metrics. N2 aborted at about 40%; the First Officer (FO) observed about 12%; and duct pressure fell to 30 PSI which I believe to be normal. This also was a hot start with FADEC abort. We now were fairly confident we had a cart problem.I asked the ground crew to check the cart; and called Maintenance Control for advice. They suggested to attempt another start; and maintenance was on the way. The FAs informed me the temperature was getting unbearable. I made a PA that this would be the last start attempt; and we would immediately deplane if it was successful. The 3rd start behaved identically to the previous 2; and as soon as it rolled back (which the cabin could hear); preparation was made to immediately deplane. We ran the QRC and the Parking Checklist; and we deplaned. Maintenance met us when the door was opened; and I made an Aircraft Flight and Maintenance Log (AFML) entry. I asked the operations coordinator for a new aircraft; and we changed airplanes.The deadheading pilot told me he thought I should have deplaned after the first engine start. One passenger requested EMS and oxygen at our new gate.This is the 2nd year in a row I've had problems with ground air conditioning and start carts in ZZZ with a hot cabin event. I suggest we reach out to Company to improve the reliability of this equipment; because things get really bad when they are not available.
Second reporter narrative
I boarded the aircraft with the Captain. It was the first flight of the day. The aircraft was extremely hot. we closed the window shades and opened all the vents. I was told they were trying to bring an exterior air conditioning cart to the aircraft; but it was on the other side of the airport so it would take quite a while.. (I was told this by the ramp employee) we held off boarding until we felt cooler air coming out of the vents. We started to board however; it seem to get hotter. The Captain suggested that before we close the door; we do a water service; and we complied with his instructions.. the temperature in the aircraft did not seem to get any cooler. The passengers were appreciative of the water and wanted to get on their way.. we closed up. We had three screaming infants on board and I was very concerned they were going to overheat so I brought the parents cold rags and cups of cold water to cool them down.. the Captain started the engine and it failed. The Captain started the engine a second time; and it failed. He continued to make announcements; letting the passengers know what was going on. At this point the temperature in the cabin started becoming unbearable. He let us know he was going to do a third attempt and then we were going to have to deplane; between the second and third attempt; deadheading Captain (name) sitting in XX came up to me and pointed to the phone and aggressively said get the Captain on the phone. I have to talk to him. This is ridiculous. I don't want to be on the news. I politely let him know that as soon as he's able to talk to you; I will relay the message I had known the Captain was on the phone with ops about the third start up so I said he would have to wait a moment.. after the third start up attempt; we deplaned and let the passengers know they had to go with all of their personal belongings. As I was doing my post flight inspection; I noticed there was a bag left on board. It was the small overhead bin over XX. I informed the Captain there was a bag left on board. He brought it up to the gate agent to find the passenger and it appeared after finding a name tag on the bag; it appeared to belong to a passenger from the prior flight. I had mentioned to the Captain and the gate agent if they had done a security check on the plane that overnighted because they would have found the bag. We left the bag with the gate agent and proceeded to our new aircraft. The passengers were very happy and appreciative to us for the way that we handled everything and were happy to be going on their way.. when we arrived at the new gate; I noticed one of our passengers sitting with medics and the port authority police. They had an oxygen bottle with them.. I was told the woman had COPD; the heat along with the long walk to gate 1 was too much for her. The port authority medics took care of her in the terminal; and as we boarded the aircraft; I asked the gate agent to make sure she was safe to fly before she boards.. she was in [seat] XX . I kept checking on her. She was appreciative and assured me she was fine. In the end; I believe it was a safety hazard and a mistake to board thinking the air conditioning cart was going to cool things off because it did not.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.