Narrative:

Received aircraft from maintenance. We executed a normal departure from ZZZ. After transferring the bleeds to the engines we began to detect a burning smell. I confirmed the smell with the first officer and then with the flight attendant. At this point we decided to return to ZZZ. The first officer and I put on our O2 mask and completed the smoke and fumes iac and QRH. We suspected the left pack was the issue so the left pack and 10th stage bleeds were secured. We executed a normal landing. The fire trucks were standing by at the side of the runway. We cleared the runway and I contacted the flight attendant to advise that we would taxi to the gate. I notified the tower that they could release the trucks and we would taxi to the gate. I had removed my mask to speak with the flight attendant. I could no longer detect any fumes and out of precaution I secured the right pack and pressed the emergency depress button now that we were on the ground to assist with evacuating any additional fumes if they were present in the back. We returned to the gate and completed all required tasks with the company. Mechanics that came out to the aircraft stated the aircraft had just gone through a compressor wash for the left engine. It may have been the cause of the fumes as the smell was similar to that of oven cleaner in a hot oven.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-200 flight crew reported they returned to their departure airport after noticing a burning smell shortly after takeoff. Fumes were suspected to be the result of an engine wash accomplished earlier.

Narrative: Received aircraft from maintenance. We executed a normal departure from ZZZ. After transferring the bleeds to the engines we began to detect a burning smell. I confirmed the smell with the FO and then with the FA. At this point we decided to return to ZZZ. The FO and I put on our O2 mask and completed the Smoke and Fumes IAC and QRH. We suspected the left pack was the issue so the L pack and 10th stage bleeds were secured. We executed a normal landing. The fire trucks were standing by at the side of the runway. We cleared the runway and I contacted the FA to advise that we would taxi to the gate. I notified the tower that they could release the trucks and we would taxi to the gate. I had removed my mask to speak with the FA. I could no longer detect any fumes and out of precaution I secured the R Pack and pressed the EMER DEPRESS button now that we were on the ground to assist with evacuating any additional fumes if they were present in the back. We returned to the gate and completed all required tasks with the company. Mechanics that came out to the aircraft stated the aircraft had just gone through a compressor wash for the L Engine. It may have been the cause of the fumes as the smell was similar to that of oven cleaner in a hot oven.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.