Fire Protection

Question 1

What are the indications of an engine fire warning
Both
MD88
MD90

Answer 1

Both - -fire bell
-Vocal warning “fire, left/right engine”
-Illuminated L/R ENG FIRE handle
MD88 - L/R LOOP A and LOOP B lights
- FIRE DETECTOR LOOP message
- both MASTER CAUTION lights
MD90 - illuminates the respective FUEL SWITCH (if on)

Question 2

What is the function of the AGENT LOW light (Amber)

Answer 2

Illuminated - respective fire extinguishing agent has been discharged(pressure low)

Question 3

How is cargo fire suppression accomplished?

Answer 3

1. Through 2 fire bottles
2. Bottle #1 - high rate discharge bottle that rapidly floods affected cargo compartment with halon
3. Bottle #2 - low rate discharge to extend suppression

Question 4

Are the cargo bottles the same as the engine and APU bottles

Answer 4

No. Cargo has its own bottles

Question 5

What are the indications of a cargo fire

Answer 5

1. Red CARGO FIRE light on OAP
2. MASTER WARNING lights on the glare shield
3. High pitched tone from the aural alerted
4. The FIRE light on the cargo fire control panel from the alarming compartment
5. The ARMED light of the alarming compartment with BTL 1 DISCH light to indicate automatic suppression system arming has occurred

Question 6

Can you silence the high pitch tone from the aural alerted during a cargo fire?

Answer 6

Yes, by pushing the FIRE BELL button between the engine fire handles

Question 7

What are the cockpit indications of an APU Fire warning?

BOTH
MD88 only

Answer 7

ALL - Aural, vocal warning “APU FIRE” 3 cycles
- APU FIRE horn(cockpit and external)
- both MASTER WARNING lights
MD88 ONLY - APU LOOP A and B
- FIRE DETECTION LOOP
Message
- both MASTER CAUTION lights

Question 8

When are all APU aural warnings inhibited

Answer 8

With the APU master switch in the OFF position

Question 9

Describe the Cargo Fire Detection system

Answer 9

1. Accomplished through a dual loop system in each detector unit
2. Each unit has 2 smoke detectors and 2 heat sensors
3. One smoke detector and one heat sensor make up one loop
4. The cargo fire warning will activate if the selected loop(s) detect smoke and/or heat

Question 10

How is engine and APU fire suppression accomplished

Answer 10

1. Engine and APU is accomplished through the use of two Fire bottles
2. Each bottle has separate discharge heads and distribution lines to each engine and APU

Question 11

What’s the function of the APU FIRE CONT switch(2)

NORM
OFF

Answer 11

1. NORM - normal position

2. OFF & AGENT ARM - immediately shuts down the APU and arms the fire extinguishers

Question 12

What is the function of the red ENG FIRE handle(3)

Answer 12

1. Light illuminated- associated engine fire is detected or the system fire test is in progress
2. PULL - (fully extended) silences the aural warning, shuts off fuel(valve at wing spar), hydraulic, pneumatic, and trips generator
   MD90 ONLY - shuts off fuel at the
   Metering unit as well as the wing
   Spar
3. ROTATE - (with additional pulling) discharges respective fir extinguishing agent into the engine cowling

Question 13

Why do the cargo bottles have different discharge rates

Answer 13

#1 bottle discharges quickly to rapidly fill compartment with halon to smother the fire
#2 bottle discharges slowly to extend suppression effectiveness

Question 14

Do both cargo bottles always blow?

Answer 14

Bottle 2 does not blow on the ground if landing has occurred

Question 15

When are each cargo bottle blown manually

Answer 15

Bottle 1 should be discharged first followed by bottle 2, 15 minutes later.
Blowing them at the same time will actually decrease fire suppression

Question 16

How long do the two cargo bottles provide suppression.

Answer 16

Approximately 60 minutes of suppression