What indicates a false start in a turbine engine?

A false start in a turbine engine is indicated when the engine lights up, but the RPM does not increase. In this situation, the combustion process begins, as evidenced by the engine lighting up, but it fails to achieve the necessary operational speed, which means that the combustion is not being sustained or is insufficient to maintain acceleration. This can suggest issues such as fuel flow problems, insufficient air supply, or problems with the ignition system — any of which can prevent the engine from progressing to normal operation.

In contrast, if the engine simply fails to light up, it indicates a separate issue related to the ignition or fuel delivery system, rather than the process of a false start. When RPM increases but there is no ignition, it indicates the engine may be attempting to operate, but similar to the prior case, it is not an indicator of a false start. Normal operation would imply that the engine progresses through start-up without any issues, thereby ruling out the possibility of a false start scenario.