FROM: THE BOEING COMPANY
TO: Boeing Correspondence (MOM)
[MESSAGE NUMBER:MOM-MOM-10-0713-01B] Multi Operator Message
MESSAGE DATE: 12 Oct 2010 1812 US PACIFIC TIME / 13 Oct 2010 0112 GMT
This message is sent to all 747-400F and 747-400BCF customers and to respective Boeing 747-400 Field Service bases, Regional Directors, the Air Transport Association, International Air Transport Association, and Airline Resident Representatives.
SERVICE REQUEST ID: 1-1708015942
ACCOUNT: Boeing Correspondence (MOM)
DUE DATE: No Action Required
PRODUCT TYPE: Flight Operations
PRODUCT LINE: 747
PRODUCT: 16 - FCOM/QRH - Flight Crew Procedures
SUBJECT: FIRE MAIN DECK Non-Normal Checklist
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SUMMARY:
Boeing is planning changes to the existing FIRE MAIN DECK and FIRE MN DK AFT, FWD, MID non-normal checklists for 747-400F and 747-400BCF airplanes, and is planning to issue supplemental information on main deck firefighting procedures and environmental control system behavior during a main deck fire. The intent is to increase awareness on the part of flight crews of the intended system configuration during a main deck fire, for the purposes of minimizing fire propagation and preventing accumulation of significant smoke on the flight deck.
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DESCRIPTION:
Boeing has undertaken a review of both the environmental control systems used in main deck firefighting, and the associated flight crew procedures, on the 747-400F and 747-400BCF airplane models. This review was prompted by a recent accident involving a 747-400F airplane, in which both a main deck cargo fire and smoke accumulation on the flight deck are believed to have played roles, and in which flight recorder evidence indicates that none of the three air conditioning packs was operating for much of the flight following the cargo fire indication.
As a result, in the near term, Boeing plans to modify the FIRE MAIN DECK and FIRE MN DK AFT, FWD, MID non-normal checklists in order to add text indicating that, after two packs are automatically shut down per system design, either air conditioning pack number 1 or pack number 3 must remain operating to prevent excessive flight deck smoke accumulation during a main deck fire. These modified checklists will be issued via Flight Crew Operations Manual Bulletins, during or prior to November 2010. Other changes to these checklists are also under consideration.
Boeing will also issue a Flight Operations Technical Bulletin on this subject, for the purpose of providing additional technical details on the operation of the relevant systems and components during main deck firefighting, as well as on the overall main deck firefighting philosophy behind the system and procedure designs. This technical bulletin will be issued in the fourth quarter of 2010.
In the meantime, we recommend that flight crews of 747-400F and 747-400BCF model airplanes be made aware that either air conditioning pack number 1 or pack number 3 must remain operating after accomplishing the checklists associated with the following EICAS warning messages: FIRE MAIN DECK, FIRE MN DK AFT, FIRE MN DK FWD, or FIRE MN DK MID. The purpose of this is to prevent excessive smoke accumulation on the flight deck under actual fire/smoke conditions.
Tony Hagen - 747 Fleet Chief
Rick Braun - Acting Chief Pilot, Flight Technical and Safety Boeing Training and Flight Services
Ken Caley
Director - Flight Operations Services
Boeing Training and Flight Services
Commercial Aviation Services
The Boeing Company