Date: 201407
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Dash 8-300
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Engine Electric Starter
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Gate Agent / CSR; Person Ground Personnel
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Evacuated; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: With passengers [boarding] the aircraft; I got a signal from one of the ramp crew members outside as well as a Gate Agent came on board and stated that I needed to come outside immediately because of smoke coming from the Number 2 engine. I quickly exited the aircraft and upon seeing the right hand side of the Number 2 engine I could see smoke coming from the DC starter/generator air exhaust port. I immediately went back inside the aircraft and shut off the APU; battery switches and took the airplane off GPU power. I instructed the gate agent to deplane immediately and went outside to analyze the condition of the starter/generator with power to the airplane turned off. Since there was still smoke coming from the exhaust port; I instructed the ramp crew to call ARFF just in case. I then assisted the Flight Attendant and Gate Agent in deplaning the aircraft through the main cabin door. Shortly thereafter; ARFF; as well as a on field Mechanic showed up to the airplane and assisted with the issue.  After a few minutes; the smoke subsided and the Mechanic confirmed it was the starter/generator that was causing the smoke. ARFF was dismissed and the aircraft was written up accordingly. On a side note; this exact same scenario happened about 3 years ago while I was a First Officer on a Q200. Somehow; the DC starter/generator will short out while on ground power causing the starter to remain engaged and subsequently burn itself out. That was also on the Number 2 engine side.

Callback: The reporter stated that Maintenance found the electrical components on the top of the generator to be melted; but the exact cause of the short circuit remains unknown.

Second narrative: When accepting the aircraft from previous flight crew we noticed the odor of smoke and my First Officer discovered the Number 2 DC generator vent had smoke coming from it.  I proceeded to shut the aircraft down while the incoming Captain called for the fire trucks to come to aircraft. By the time of their arrival the smoke had mostly stopped; we had them open the cowling and check to see that nothing else was on fire; we determined it was sufficiently out and had Maintenance proceed with the inspection. It turned out the starter/generator was stuck in the starter mode caused it to overheat and burn up.  We subsequently canceled the flight waiting for Maintenance to get us a new generator.


Synopsis: DHC8-300 inbound and outbound Captains report smoke was coming from the starter/generator air exhaust port. Power is quickly removed from the aircraft and the passengers evacuated through the main cabin door.