A BE40's engine inlet plug was ingested into the engine during start because the Captain did not see it installed due to early morning ambient lighting and an unusual parking circumstance.
Synopsis
A BE40's engine inlet plug was ingested into the engine during start because the Captain did not see it installed due to early morning ambient lighting and an unusual parking circumstance.
Narrative
Engine Inlet plug was ingested into right engine on engine start. Majority of cover did not ingest; mostly foam is what entered. Below is an excerpt from my report to the employer. A foam engine inlet plug was drawn into the engine on engine start. We arrived at XA:25 am for the flight with sufficient rest. My First Officer was on her first flight since receiving a type rating in the Beech Jet. The airplane was online on time; but because of the wind from the north; the plane was parked pointing to the north (backward with the tail facing the building and ramp lights). I showed my First Officer how to operate the door; stairs and most everything that wasn't hands-on experienced at Flight Safety. The FMS took a while to load because it wasn't the same model as the ones in the simulator and I had to show her how to load everything. We took a while to get that done; along with the cockpit checks; functional checks and cabin preparation for passengers. I did a visual walkaround outside while the First Officer was inside and did not notice any engine covers (plug-type); due in part to the darkness and the silhouetting of the plane as viewed from the front. I went to retrieve passengers and I walked around the plane around the long way (around the right side; then around the front) and noticed no anomalies. Upon closing the door; I ran a cockpit flow for before starting engines. I looked out the window; saw the line service worker and indicated I was going to start #2. He looked down the right side of the plane; signaled OK and I pressed the start button. Indications were normal until the ITT started to run away. Just before I was about to cut off the fuel; the ITT ran back down to 200 or so; then started to rise again. At that point I brought the power lever back to idle cutoff. The flight was terminated due to engine FOD.
Second reporter narrative
Was my first flight in aircraft. We started with a full brief of the flight route; weight and balance and a brief on where things are located throughout the charter office. When we got into the aircraft; we did our cockpit checks and started to load the FMS. The FMS was different than what I was trained on; therefore my Captain was walking me through the differences in loading the FMS. Aircraft was pointed into the wind; which is the opposite of how the normal parking procedure is. With that; there were no lights to light up the plane. This was also an early go; therefore there was no sun to light up the aircraft. Passengers arrived early for an on time departure. With the walkaround complete; right engine was started as the first engine of the day. When the OK was given from line service to start engines; the number 2 engine was started. When fuel was introduced; ITT rose as normal; then rose quickly. Engine cut off was initiated no later than 600 on ITT and not attempted again due to ingestion of engine plug.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.