Date: 201307
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: YSSY.Airport, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: External Power
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Anomaly: Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Other Person
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
Primary problem: Equipment / Tooling

Narrative: After completing our flight planning we walked to the aircraft and as we boarded the plane we were told that Maintenance had just received a radio call that there was a reported fire below the aircraft. Upon investigation; we learned that a Contract Ground Security Guard who was posted just forward of our parked aircraft had observed smoke; sparks and arcing coming from the connection between the external ground service cord and the aircraft. After speaking with the guard he told me that he was concerned about the safety of the aircraft and seeing that no one was in the area with a radio to advise of this problem and fearing the potential of a serious fire; he walked over to the external power cord and pulled it from the aircraft to stop the sparking and smoke. I thanked him for his actions and told him that I was very happy that he was OK because his action could have resulted very significant personal injury or death. I do not know what type of training these contract workers have prior to being released to their job on our ramp; but I would highly recommend that they have more familiarization training with the airport and gate area to include training on the use of the emergency power shutoff switch located on or adjacent to the jetway; so that they can safely respond to this type of situation in the future without placing themselves in harms way. I would hope that the local station extends an appropriate thank you to this individual for his concern and actions; while ensuring better training for our contract planeside workers. During the inspection process of both the interior and exterior connectors and wiring leading to the external power panel I had a chance to speak with our Maintenance technicians and was very impressed with their competency and professionalism. According to one of the airport authority employees that is charged with maintaining the jetway and power at this gate; he was aware that Gate XX was having issues with the electric power at this gate. I do not know what the airport authority does to maintain the facilities but apparently they knew that this gate was not functioning properly prior to this incident. I would suggest that the local station report and document faulty jetways and follow up to see that the airport authority does in fact take timely corrective actions.




Synopsis: A contract security guard observed smoke and sparks from the ground service cord of a B747 parked at the gate. When he found that there was no one in the area to advice; he pulled the ground power cord from the aircraft to stop the sparking.