Apu Fire

[ali1986]

Hello

I'm sure it is a rare occurence so am appreciative if no one knows. but i can't find any pictures of an apu actually on fire can anyone enlighten me?

Ali

[Yellow Sun]

The APU is contained in a fireproof box that ,in the cases I am aware of, has functioned properly. In addition, modern APU installations are usuaully designed to shut down automatically in event a fault is detected, in some cases firing the fire extinguisher as well. The act of shutdown closes the intake door(s) and bleed valves to contain the extinguishing agent in the now sealed box. So, external indications of an APU fire are usually confined to a puff of whitish vapour as the extinguisher does its job.

However there have been cases where the APU has suffered catastrophic mechanical failure and debris has been shed. I recall an incident at Heathrow involving a 737 APU where parts of the turbine were ejected through the exhaust and scattered around the Bravo cul-de-sac.

YS

[SNS3Guppy]

The APU sits behind a firewall, but it's not fireproof. It's fire resistant, to some degree. APU's include fire detection and in most cases fire extinguishing systems. In our case, we have one shot; When the APU detects a fire, it should shut down automatically. The memory items include two steps; pull the fire switch/t-handle, and then press the discharge button. The checklist indicates that if this is unsuccessful, consider evacuating the aircraft...because we have just run out of options.

I've seen a few very spectacular APU or GTC fires, including one on a test stand. I don't have any pictures, though.

You could try airliners.net:

Photos: Boeing 737-45D Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/LOT---Polish/Boeing-737-45D/0449012/L/&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=3&sok=keyword_(%5C%27%2B%5C%22apu%5C%22_%2B%5C%22fire%5C%22%5C %27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE))_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0554930&next_id=0173704)

[Just a spotter]

Don't know if there are any pics of the actual incident, but back in 2006 an Iberia A320 suffered an APU fire after landing in Dublin.

Photo of the aircraft after evacuation here (http://www.irishairpics.com/database/photo/1013361/) and a pdf version of the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) preliminary report here (http://www.aaiu.ie/upload/general/7901-0.pdf)

JAS