A320 Engine started on its own
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
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From: new delhi, india
A320 Engine started on its own
Hey guyz.. well this happened last week.. on my A320-214. No.1 engine started 
on its own.... atleast thats what the captain who was in the cockpit at the time told me.. and even made an entry in the techlog.. dont know what to make of it... captain is adamant he didnt do it... when i reached the cockpit, engine was running down n all parameters displayed on the ecam... but egt was still rising for about a minute afterwards...
on its own.... atleast thats what the captain who was in the cockpit at the time told me.. and even made an entry in the techlog.. dont know what to make of it... captain is adamant he didnt do it... when i reached the cockpit, engine was running down n all parameters displayed on the ecam... but egt was still rising for about a minute afterwards...
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: flyover country USA
We had just replaced the magnetos on a R-985 and were pulling the prop through by hand (mags OFF) prior to start. Guess what? It started all by itself! 
So why weren't the mag p-leads grounded? The guy who did the bench test put a slip of paper under the safety contacts so he could test the spark. He then forgot to remove said paper, and when we connected the p-leads, the paper prevented the grounding contact.
ALWAYS treat the mags as though hot!
So why weren't the mag p-leads grounded? The guy who did the bench test put a slip of paper under the safety contacts so he could test the spark. He then forgot to remove said paper, and when we connected the p-leads, the paper prevented the grounding contact.
ALWAYS treat the mags as though hot!
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: ireland
In my place of work, something very similar nearly happened on one of our A320's.
The problem was that someone had one master switches in on position and mode selector in ignition start.
The pilot procedure is to just start the APU prior to close-up and push back. So the fuel pumps were on at this stage and all that was left was bleed air.
Luckily enough the pilot checked the Mode selector and master switches position before selecting bleed air.
Myself personnally i always now check the mode selector is in Norm and masters switches in off before i select bleed air on.
You just never know what way the cockpit was left.
The problem was that someone had one master switches in on position and mode selector in ignition start.
The pilot procedure is to just start the APU prior to close-up and push back. So the fuel pumps were on at this stage and all that was left was bleed air.
Luckily enough the pilot checked the Mode selector and master switches position before selecting bleed air.
Myself personnally i always now check the mode selector is in Norm and masters switches in off before i select bleed air on.
You just never know what way the cockpit was left.
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: The Sandpit
And what did the captain do to stop it?? Or did it stop on it's own too?
Sounds like a checklist failure to me. Before I put power on an a/c (especially the APU) I check all the switches are in the correct positions.
To start the bus at least 2 switches need to be selected (more if you include bleed air, etc)
If he was adamant I would have pulled the FDR (or QAR) for analysis. If the EGT was still rising after a couple of minutes that sounds like you had a tailpipe fire (probably minor as it eventually went down) so why didn't you check and blow it out? Apart from the usual checks to confirm correct operation, I also hope you checked the FADEC for any excedances before releasing the a/c.
Sounds like a checklist failure to me. Before I put power on an a/c (especially the APU) I check all the switches are in the correct positions.
To start the bus at least 2 switches need to be selected (more if you include bleed air, etc)
If he was adamant I would have pulled the FDR (or QAR) for analysis. If the EGT was still rising after a couple of minutes that sounds like you had a tailpipe fire (probably minor as it eventually went down) so why didn't you check and blow it out? Apart from the usual checks to confirm correct operation, I also hope you checked the FADEC for any excedances before releasing the a/c.
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: flyover country USA
From a couple US Navy techs:
A TF30 engine was pulled for inspection, and was found unserviceable while on the trolley/cart. But it needed to be preserved for shipment to overhaul.
The maintenance crew attached a hose to the fuel pump inlet to suck preservative oil into the fuel system, then applied shop air to the starter to turn the fuel pump. However this engine had a self-powered ignition alternator on the gearbox, and there was enough JP-5 left in the lines that the engine lit up and started to taxi across the ramp.
It encountered and disassembled a brick wall before the fuel lines ran dry.
A TF30 engine was pulled for inspection, and was found unserviceable while on the trolley/cart. But it needed to be preserved for shipment to overhaul.
The maintenance crew attached a hose to the fuel pump inlet to suck preservative oil into the fuel system, then applied shop air to the starter to turn the fuel pump. However this engine had a self-powered ignition alternator on the gearbox, and there was enough JP-5 left in the lines that the engine lit up and started to taxi across the ramp.
It encountered and disassembled a brick wall before the fuel lines ran dry.
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,448
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From: various places .....
It encountered and disassembled a brick wall before the fuel lines ran dry
.. hadn't encountered this tale before ... but what a lovely turn of phrase...
.. hadn't encountered this tale before ... but what a lovely turn of phrase...
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Desert
After reading several posts here: I ponder.............
I seem to recall that there are these laminated and folded pieces of paper in the flightdeck. I think these "checklists" mention the position of numerous switches PRIOR to engaging your brain, not to mention your giddy little fingers. When all else fails or whilst interrupted during the completion of a checklist, start over from the beginning(after you have told the interruption to GO AWAY).
I seem to recall that there are these laminated and folded pieces of paper in the flightdeck. I think these "checklists" mention the position of numerous switches PRIOR to engaging your brain, not to mention your giddy little fingers. When all else fails or whilst interrupted during the completion of a checklist, start over from the beginning(after you have told the interruption to GO AWAY).
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 14
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From: new delhi, india
some more details
The captain said he recycled the master lever to stop the engine---???
Mode selector was off when i got in.
And And And he said he hadn't started doing the checklists as he was just feeding his flight plan.
Aircraft was in transit, so APU was on.
I did do an EGR and FADEC test prior to release...
Everything appeared normal.
Mode selector was off when i got in.
And And And he said he hadn't started doing the checklists as he was just feeding his flight plan.
Aircraft was in transit, so APU was on.
I did do an EGR and FADEC test prior to release...
Everything appeared normal.
