Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification; Distraction; Confusion; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
When I arrived at the aircraft; two mechanics were in the cockpit; finishing their documentation after clearing an MEL item. They left the aircraft; telling me that the APU was operating; as it was. The first officer and I prepared for departure as usual; and; eventually proceeded to push back and taxi out. I called for a single engine taxi; and; soon seeing that there were few aircraft ahead of us; I called for the 'taxi engine start'. Shortly after this; both pilots PFDs; and MFDs; went blank; the EICAS filled with yellow and red text; and I noticed; the nosewheel steering stopped working. Still having brakes; I stopped the aircraft on the taxiway. Very soon; Ground called us. RTU1 and 2 were dark; and as Ground began to call us with increasing urgency; it took me a bit of time to remember to inhibit the RTUs; so that I could transmit in the standby VHF radio. I had; in the intervening time; asked the First Officer (FO) to restart the APU. As the APU spooled up; I looked upon the panel above me to see that both the left and right GEN switches were in the OFF/RESET position. I turned them on. After this; we taxied off the taxiway where we ran a first-flight checklist flow; and after start check; and a performance check. I made a PA to explain (vaguely) the unplanned darkness. Having checked all the switch positions; circuit breaker positions and briefed again; we continued the flight.We were attempting to execute an ordinarily low-threat flight; and boarded the aircraft with two switches in unusual positions. The significance of these switches configuration did not become evident until the First Officer shut down the APU; as he ought to have done. I did not note the switches upon arrival; even though it is often useful to check switch positions after arriving at the airplane; especially when non-pilots were in the cockpit. I did not do this; and I did not back up my FO during the after-start check.Following the FO as he runs his flows might have caught the switch position
A CRJ-700 crew started their preflight as maintenance finished clearing a MEL. After engine start; the APU was secured which put the aircraft in darkness because the generator switches were both OFF/RESET. Power was restored and the flight continued.