AIRLIFE Denver - Non-injury incident

Date: 02/05/09 0150 MST

Program: AIRLIFE Denver
	501 E. Hampden Avenue
	Englewood, CO  80113

Type: Learjet 25D
Tail #: N600GM
Operator/Vendor: International Jet Aviation

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: 2 Pilots, 2 Flight Nurses. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	Aircraft departed Centennial Airport (Denver, CO) at 0150 enroute to
	Rawlins, WY for an inter-facility transport.  Approximately two
	minutes after takeoff the right engine fire warning light illuminated.
	 The Captain reduced power on that engine and the light extinguished
	momentarily (1-2 seconds) but then came back on.  The Captain then
	reduced the power to idle and the light remained on.  All other engine
	indications were normal (temps, oil pressure, etc).  The engine was
	secured (shutdown), ATC was notified, and the aircraft made an
	uneventful landing back at Centennial.  Emergency equipment was
	standing by.
	 
	The crew performed a preliminary external inspection of the right
	engine and noted no visible indication of fire or serious overheating.
	 Crew and equipment were transferred to a backup aircraft and the
	mission was completed without further incident. 
	

Additional Info: 
	Maintenance tested and duplicated the fire warning light problem on
	the ground.  Further inspection of the aircraft revealed a grounded
	insulator on the right engine fire warning detection loop.  The
	Learjet 25 uses heat sensing elements wrapped in metal tubing attached
	to the engine cowling which surrounds the forward nacelle and engine
	tailcone.  The metal tubing is isolated from the engine cowling with
	insulated standoffs.  Maintenance replaced the insulated standoffs and
	retested the system for normal operation.  (There has been no known
	engine fire in Learjets in 40 plus years of operation.)
	 
	A similar problem was encountered in this aircraft on 11/11/07.
	 
	A Service Difficulty report was submitted to the FAA in accordance
	with 14 CFR 135.415(c). 
	

Source: Jana Williams, Program Director

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