PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Fire warnings - an intellectual debate on this contentious subject
Old 4th Jan 2016, 10:55
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Shackman
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Once a Squirrel Heaven (or hell!), Shropshire UK
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Unfortunately, in many cases it is a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' scenario for the subsequent inquiry, and has led to much crew room discussion.

'Check for signs of fire': great in most circumstances, but remember the sensors are (generally) around the engine bay and it could be something else. A hot gas leak - should go out at low power so may be a good indicator, but is it doing any other damage?

Like Fareastdriver I too know what a real turbine fire looks (and sounds) like, but not the insiduous problems, although I have also seen the results. Spurious warnings are much more common, particularly in wet conditions, but I've only had two real fires on rotary - one was indicated but accompanied by a loud bang and associated indications; the other was a call from the back - 'hey capt, did you know the port engine's burning?'. Both times I was also well placed for a land immediately situation, but for a few of the spurious ones I was IMC and took the other line with 'no other signs'. It doesn't half concentrate the sphincter though.
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