<< >> NASA ASRS Report 137303, February 1990

Smoke in cockpit. Return land.

Attributes
ACN	137303
Time
Date	199002
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 19200 flight time type : 13000
ASRS Report	137303
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After takeoff at stl the spoiler actuator motor began to run. It ran until it popped the spoiler control circuit breaker. A few mins later a burnt electrical smell was detected in the cockpit. Shortly after this smoke began to emit from the throttle quadrant. We followed prescribed electrical smoke procedures and asked ATC for clearance back to stl. We were issued a turn to 180 degree and a descent to 16000'. We were shortly thereafter switched to stl approach control. Stl approach cleared us for a visibility approach to runway 24 as soon as we had the airport in sight. In the confusion of communicating on #1 radio and interphone through the oxygen masks I don't know if we ever formally declared an emergency. If I did not, I intended to. Approach control did give us priority clearance to land at stl. We were asked if we wanted emergency equipment standing by on the ground. We replied in the affirmative. After landing #2 tire was blown due to no anti skid available on emergency power. The smoke began to clear about 5 to 8 mi on final approach. No evacuate/evacuation was necessary on initiated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMOKE IN COCKPIT. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF AT STL THE SPOILER ACTUATOR MOTOR BEGAN TO RUN. IT RAN UNTIL IT POPPED THE SPOILER CTL CB. A FEW MINS LATER A BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL WAS DETECTED IN THE COCKPIT. SHORTLY AFTER THIS SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE THROTTLE QUADRANT. WE FOLLOWED PRESCRIBED ELECTRICAL SMOKE PROCS AND ASKED ATC FOR CLRNC BACK TO STL. WE WERE ISSUED A TURN TO 180 DEG AND A DSCNT TO 16000'. WE WERE SHORTLY THEREAFTER SWITCHED TO STL APCH CTL. STL APCH CLRED US FOR A VIS APCH TO RWY 24 AS SOON AS WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. IN THE CONFUSION OF COMMUNICATING ON #1 RADIO AND INTERPHONE THROUGH THE OXYGEN MASKS I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER FORMALLY DECLARED AN EMER. IF I DID NOT, I INTENDED TO. APCH CTL DID GIVE US PRIORITY CLRNC TO LAND AT STL. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WANTED EMER EQUIP STANDING BY ON THE GND. WE REPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. AFTER LNDG #2 TIRE WAS BLOWN DUE TO NO ANTI SKID AVAILABLE ON EMER PWR. THE SMOKE BEGAN TO CLR ABOUT 5 TO 8 MI ON FINAL APCH. NO EVAC WAS NECESSARY ON INITIATED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.