B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 7000
Troubleshooting; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
While in cruise; we had an EICAS messsage and instrument light indicating the #1 cargo fire bottle had discharged. Talking with Maintenance Control and Dispatch; we learned we could not be dispatched in this condition for an ETOPS flight. No further procedure was in the flight manual. Returned to departure airport for normal landing.
After takeoff; EICAS message FWD EQUIP COOLING displayed. Completed the QRH action items to the end of the checklist. Soon thereafter; EICAS message FWD EQUIP OVERHEAT displayed. Completed the QRH action items to the end of the checklist. While in cruise; east of ZZZ; EICAS message FIRE BTL 1 displayed; with the FIRE BTL DSCH low pressure light illuminated. Completed the QRH action items to the end of the checklist; called Dispatch for phone patch with Maintenance Control and discussed the aircraft status. Maintenance Control believed that operation could be continued over ETOPS area; Dispatch disagreed and I disagreed in that the aircraft had not yet entered the ETOPS area and advised Maintenance Control and Dispatch I would be returning. Notified ATC of our situation and returned to departure airport.
B767-300 flight crew experience an EICAS message for FWD EQUIP COOLING; followed shortly by a FWD EQUIP OVERHEAT message. QRH procedures are complied with and the flight continues toward Europe. Prior to leaving domestic airspace; another EICAS message for FIRE BTL 1 is displayed; with the FIRE BTL DSCH light is illuminated. The crew elects to return to the departure airport.