S80 WITH INOP APU SHUTS DOWN ENGS AFTER DEPLANING OF PAX TO PREVENT INJURIES FROM RUNNING ENGS AND OPEN CARGO DOORS AT LGA.

Date: 1999-07 · Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: taxi

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-maintenance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

S80 WITH INOP APU SHUTS DOWN ENGS AFTER DEPLANING OF PAX TO PREVENT INJURIES FROM RUNNING ENGS AND OPEN CARGO DOORS AT LGA.

Narrative

ACFT WAS DISPATCHED FROM DFW WITH APU GENERATOR INOP IN LOGBOOK. FO CONTACTED RAMP CTL ON LNDG RWY 22 THAT E WOULD NEED GND PWR AT THE ASSIGNED GATE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT A TOW IN WAS REQUIRED AS AN F100 WAS ON ANOTHER GATE AND THAT GND PWR WOULD BE APPLIED. TOW CREW DID NOT PLUG IN FOR VOICE CONTACT IN THE ALLEY AT TRACTOR HOOK UP. BOTH ENGS WERE KEPT RUNNING UNTIL AT THE GATE AT WHICH TIME THE L ENG WAS SHUT DOWN. NO GND PWR WAS APPLIED OR WAS INDICATED AVAILABLE IN THE COCKPIT AND THE R ENG WAS KEPT RUNNING. WONDERING WHAT THE DELAY WAS FOR PWR. I CONTACTED RAMP FOR INFO. A SERIOUS BREACH OF SAFETY WAS MADE AS ALL CARGO DOORS WERE OPENED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE R ENG WAS STILL RUNNING. RAMP SENT THE GND SUPVR TO THE COCKPIT WHO TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE PWR PROB WAS AT THE GATE AND THAT A MOBILE UNIT WAS ON THE WAY. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS EXPLANATION AS TO WHY ALL THE CARGO DOORS WERE OPENED WHEN HE SAID 'IT WAS TO EXPEDITE UNLOADING AS THE PLANE WAS LATE SO THE PLANE COULD BE TURNED AROUND RAPIDLY.' FOR SAFETY I SECURED THE R ENG. AS GND PWR WAS STILL NOT PLUGGED IN; THE PLANE WENT DARK BUT ALL PAX HAD DEPLANED BY THIS TIME. I ADVISE THAT THE SAFETY MIND SET TO EXPEDITE IS A SURE WAY TO INDUCE PERSONNEL AND EQUIP INJURY. I FURTHER ADVISE ACTION TO ALERT/DISCIPLINE THOSE INVOLVED TO THIS INCIDENT TO PREVENT ANOTHER AT LGA.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.