A B747-400 with ground power connected had large sparks displayed from the number 3 flap track fairing canoe when flaps were retracted.
Synopsis
A B747-400 with ground power connected had large sparks displayed from the number 3 flap track fairing canoe when flaps were retracted.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
With ground power connected, aircraft was getting ready to taxi to gate. As flaps were brought up from 30 degrees position, large sparks were noticed from number 3 flap track fairing area, as flaps began to move up.
Inspection found small burn mark in canoe, most likely from static discharge from linkage inside canoe. Aircraft was not grounded. ('Not grounded' means not grounded statically to earth with cord.) Found no other possible source of discharge.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
WITH GND PWR CONNECTED; ACFT WAS GETTING READY TO TAXI TO GATE. AS FLAPS WERE BROUGHT UP FROM 30 DEG POS; LARGE SPARKS WERE NOTICED FROM #3 FLAP TRACK FAIRING AREA; AS FLAPS BEGAN TO MOVE UP. INSPECTION FOUND SMALL BURN MARK IN CANOE; MOST LIKELY FROM STATIC DISCHARGE FROM LINKAGE INSIDE CANOE. ACFT WAS NOT GNDED. ('NOT GNDED' MEANS NOT GNDED STATICALLY TO EARTH WITH CORD.) FOUND NO OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCE OF DISCHARGE.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.