A C560XL'S ENG FIRE WARNING ILLUMINATED DURING DSCNT. AN EMER WAS DECLARED. A LEAKING FUEL LINE WAS DISCOVERED TO BE THE CAUSE.

Date: 2006-11 · Aircraft: Citation Excel (C560XL) · Phase: approach

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-smoke-fire-fumes-odor

Synopsis

A C560XL'S ENG FIRE WARNING ILLUMINATED DURING DSCNT. AN EMER WAS DECLARED. A LEAKING FUEL LINE WAS DISCOVERED TO BE THE CAUSE.

Narrative

AT THE END OF A 2.5 HR FLT WITH A FINAL DEST OF ZZZ; AT APPROX XA00; DSNDING OUT OF APPROX 9000 FT MSL; 250 KTS JUST PAST THE INTXN ON THE ARR INTO ZZZ THE L FIRE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PER THE EMER PROCS THE L THROTTLE WAS RETARDED TO IDLE AND THE LIGHT EXTINGUISHED. AFTER APPROX 15-30 SECONDS THE LIGHT RE-ILLUMINATED AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENG. UPON SHUTDOWN THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT AND REMAINED OUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT (APPROX 15 MINS). NO FIRE BOTTLE WAS USED DUE TO THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT EXTINGUISHING ITSELF UPON ENG SHUTDOWN. CHKLIST WAS THEN FOLLOWED FOR THE ENG SHUTDOWN; AND SINGLE ENG APCH AND LNDG. APCH WAS APPRISED OF THE SITUATION AND ASKED FOR 'PRIORITY' HANDLING TO LAND ZZZ1 INSTEAD OF OUR ORIGINAL DEST OF ZZZ. DEST WAS CHANGED DUE TO THE EXTENDED LNDG DISTANCE REQUIRED BY HAVING TO LAND AT APCH FLAPS. APCH ACKNOWLEDGED OUR REQUEST AND IMMEDIATELY VECTORED US FOR THE ILS. CHKLIST WAS COMPLETED AND A NORMAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ACCOMPLISHED. ON ROLLOUT; TWR (WHICH WAS ON THE AFFECTED ENG SIDE) NOTED THEY SAW NOTHING 'COMING FROM THE L ENG.' UPON TAXIING OFF THE RWY; WE TAXIED BY A FIRE TRUCK THAT ALSO WAS OFF OUR L SIDE AND WAS GIVEN A THUMBS UP THAT THERE WAS NO VISUAL FIRE; SMOKE; OR DEBRIS COMING FROM THE ENG. WE THEN TAXIED TO THE SVC CTR. UPON SHUTDOWN AND SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE ENG; THERE WAS VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTOM NACELLE AND DEBRIS LAYING ON THE LOWER NACELLE. INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT A PIN HOLE LEAK MAY HAVE DEVELOPED ON THE FUEL HARNESS AND SUBSEQUENTLY SPRAYED ATOMIZED FUEL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE AFT BURNER CAN CAUSING THE FIRE. WHEN THE ENG WAS SHUT DOWN AND FUEL REMOVED FROM THE FUEL HARNESS THE FIRE WENT OUT EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT. ACFT IS CURRENTLY AT THE SVC CTR AWAITING INSPECTION BY PRATT AND WHITNEY TO LOCATE THE ACTUAL FAILURE POINT AND CAUSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND DAMAGE WAS CONFINED/LOCALIZED TO THE AFT FUEL HARNESS AREA. ANY FURTHER DAMAGE WILL BE ASSESSED AS THRUST REVERSERS ARE REMOVED AND THE FUEL HARNESS AREA IS OPENED UP.

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