Service difficulty report · Bulkhead · Bombdr DHC8402

Difficulty date
June 18, 2010
Submitted
January 4, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Bombdr DHC8402
Aircraft time
7,002 hours
Engine
Pwc PW150A
Propeller
Rotol CR3204123F1
Part
Bulkhead
Condition
Damaged
Location
Nr 1 Nacelle
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
F, J
Precautionary procedure
E, F

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

NR 1 ENG FIRE, CHECK FIRE DETECT LIGHT DURING FLIGHT. ENG SHUTDOWN AND 1 FIRE BOTTLE DISCHARGED. FOUND NR 1 ENG "HORSE COLLAR" FOUND DAMAGED. "HORSE COLLAR" REPLACED. Q400 NACELLE HAS A SINGLE FIRE ZONE WITH AN EDUCTOR/EJECTOR DRIVEN VENTILATION SYS. THE SYS IS BALANCED FOR OPERATION AT ALL ENG POWER SETTINGS WITHIN THE COMPLETE ACFT OPERATING ENVELOPE. THIS BALANCE RELIES ON THE DESIGN OF EXISTING INLETS (NACA SCOOP & PROPELLER SPINNER GAP) AND OUTLETS (MN ENG NOZZLE/BELLMOUTH EJECTOR & SOAKBACK VENT). ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THIS CONFIGURATION WILL DISRUPT THE VENTILATION BALANCE AND MAY LEAD TO EITHER EXCESSIVE OR INSUFFICIENT VENTILATION OF FIRE ZONE. NOT SURE WHICH PANEL AND WHICH EDGE WAS LIFTING IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE. A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE NACELLE VENTILATION FLOW CAN RESULT IN A LOCAL OVERHEAT AND COULD TRIGGER A FIRE INDICATION. I WOULD RECOMMEND TO PERFORM A DETAILED VISUAL INSP OF THE WHOLE NACELLE FOR SIGNS OF OVERHEAT. PARTICULARLY THE MORE HEAT SENSITIVE ITEMS LIKE ELECTRICAL HARNESSES, HARNESS LACING, LABELS ON THE PIPES AND HOSES, ETC. THERE SHOULD BE SOME TELL-TALE SIGNS OF OVERHEAT, EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE ANY INDICATION.