Shortly after takeoff; the B737-800 flight attendants notified the pilots of a burnt electrical odor...

Narrative:

Our takeoff was normal. Passing through about 2;000 ft MSL; the flight attendants called the cockpit and stated that they smelled a strong odor of fumes in the cabin. We asked them for more information and after discussion; we determined that the odors were not normal (smelling like burnt rubber or an electrical smell). The passengers in the front cabin; mid-cabin; and aft-cabin also smelled the fume-like odors. We then put on our oxygen masks and requested an immediate return from departure control. We declared an emergency and ran the 'smoke/fire/fumes on the aircraft' checklist.communication proved difficult with the new -800 oxygen masks in flight as the loud sound of breathing made it difficult to hear. We landed and had the fire trucks follow us to the gate. The burnt smell continued (on and off) during the return to the airport and also on the taxi-in to the gate. The fire department then made their checks on the aircraft at the gate. We made three logbook entries; (1) the burnt; electrical odors with the emergency return; (2) a flaps 40 over speed of 3 knots (165 KIAS); and (3) an overweight landing (landing weight about 148;200 pounds). We then switched aircraft and continued on uneventfully. We need to practice with the new -800 oxygen masks during pt's and pc's.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Shortly after takeoff; the B737-800 flight attendants notified the pilots of a burnt electrical odor so an emergency was declared and the flight returned to the departure airport. The pilots reported difficultly communicating using the new style O2 masks and the odor's source was the WIFI system.

Narrative: Our takeoff was normal. Passing through about 2;000 FT MSL; the flight attendants called the cockpit and stated that they smelled a strong odor of fumes in the cabin. We asked them for more information and after discussion; we determined that the odors were not normal (smelling like burnt rubber or an electrical smell). The passengers in the front cabin; mid-cabin; and aft-cabin also smelled the fume-like odors. We then put on our oxygen masks and requested an immediate return from Departure Control. We declared an emergency and ran the 'Smoke/Fire/Fumes on the Aircraft' Checklist.Communication proved difficult with the new -800 oxygen masks in flight as the loud sound of breathing made it difficult to hear. We landed and had the fire trucks follow us to the gate. The burnt smell continued (on and off) during the return to the airport and also on the taxi-in to the gate. The Fire Department then made their checks on the aircraft at the gate. We made three logbook entries; (1) the burnt; electrical odors with the emergency return; (2) a flaps 40 over speed of 3 knots (165 KIAS); and (3) an overweight landing (landing weight about 148;200 pounds). We then switched aircraft and continued on uneventfully. We need to practice with the new -800 oxygen masks during PT's and PC's.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1048591
Time
Date	201211
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cabin Entertainment
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 215 Flight Crew Type 215
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 124
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Shortly after takeoff; the B737-800 flight attendants notified the pilots of a burnt electrical odor so an emergency was declared and the flight returned to the departure airport. The pilots reported difficultly communicating using the new style O2 masks and the odor's source was the wifi system.