Narrative:

We had a fume event on the aircraft after boarding was completed but just prior to receiving the final paperwork and beginning the pushback process. I had started the APU approximately 15 minutes prior to this point. As usual; no ground air had been connected to the aircraft so it began to get warm in the cabin. After the APU started I selected the APU bleed on. This ran for approximately 10-12 minutes without issue. I was in the process of briefing the first officer when we both smelled a very unique scent. It began as a scent of pine and progressed rapidly to a scent of moldy/dirty socks and oil. I immediately performed the procedure outlined in our fom (flight operations manual) vol ii. This aircraft was not equipped with the QRH checklist titled elimination of odor in the cockpit/cabin. After applying the procedure; I retrieved the gate agent and deplaned. The odor dissipated in approximately 2 minutes. I called dispatch to inform them of what had occurred and asked to be transferred to maintenance control. I informed maintenance control of the situation and wrote what had happened in the aircraft logbook.once all the passengers were off the aircraft I began checking to ensure that the flight crew was ok. During my discussion with the flight attendants one of them got up and ran to the aircraft lavatory. She returned and informed me that she felt dizzy; nauseous; and had just vomited in the lavatory. I told the crew to gather their belongings and get off the aircraft. I called the duty phone and requested paramedics to meet us at the gate to have the entire flight crew's medical situation analyzed. Between the time of that phone call and the arrival of the paramedics; which was approximately 10-15 minutes; 2 additional flight attendants began to vomit; all 4 had headaches; 1 complained of a metallic taste in her mouth; and several complained of; and exhibited; blurry vision. The paramedics informed us that we all had high blood pressure; a high pulse; and that our oxygen concentration was lower than normal. In my discussion with the mechanics who boarded the aircraft right after the event; I was told that they smelled nothing and that what I had smelled was simply jet exhaust from an aircraft that had taxied behind us. I know what jet exhaust smells like and this was nothing even remotely similar. As a matter of fact; the fumes/odors I smelled that day are like nothing I have ever smelled aboard any aircraft. I filled out 2 forms the mechanics brought with them addressing this issue. I feel that both of these forms; as well as my logbook entry; were disregarded as the mechanics claimed that they could not smell anything. It is my opinion that nothing was truly done to rectify the situation and that the airplane was simply given a clean bill of health and returned to service by maintenance control.these aircraft need a thorough check after one of these events. In this case I do not feel that the aircraft received the attention it needed. Maintenance made the decision that what I had smelled was burnt jet fuel from another aircraft before I even handed them the logbook with the write-up. This is not treating the cause; this is simply finding a quick solution that fits the symptoms.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew reported smelling a strong odor prior to departure which caused some crew members to become ill.

Narrative: We had a fume event on the aircraft after boarding was completed but just prior to receiving the final paperwork and beginning the pushback process. I had started the APU approximately 15 minutes prior to this point. As usual; no ground air had been connected to the aircraft so it began to get warm in the cabin. After the APU started I selected the APU Bleed on. This ran for approximately 10-12 minutes without issue. I was in the process of briefing the First Officer when we both smelled a very unique scent. It began as a scent of pine and progressed rapidly to a scent of moldy/dirty socks and oil. I immediately performed the procedure outlined in our FOM (Flight Operations Manual) VOL II. This aircraft was not equipped with the QRH checklist titled Elimination of Odor in the Cockpit/Cabin. After applying the procedure; I retrieved the Gate Agent and deplaned. The odor dissipated in approximately 2 minutes. I called Dispatch to inform them of what had occurred and asked to be transferred to Maintenance Control. I informed Maintenance Control of the situation and wrote what had happened in the aircraft logbook.Once all the passengers were off the aircraft I began checking to ensure that the flight crew was ok. During my discussion with the Flight Attendants one of them got up and ran to the aircraft lavatory. She returned and informed me that she felt dizzy; nauseous; and had just vomited in the lavatory. I told the crew to gather their belongings and get off the aircraft. I called the duty phone and requested paramedics to meet us at the gate to have the entire flight crew's medical situation analyzed. Between the time of that phone call and the arrival of the paramedics; which was approximately 10-15 minutes; 2 additional flight attendants began to vomit; all 4 had headaches; 1 complained of a metallic taste in her mouth; and several complained of; and exhibited; blurry vision. The paramedics informed us that we all had high blood pressure; a high pulse; and that our oxygen concentration was lower than normal. In my discussion with the mechanics who boarded the aircraft right after the event; I was told that they smelled nothing and that what I had smelled was simply jet exhaust from an aircraft that had taxied behind us. I know what jet exhaust smells like and this was nothing even remotely similar. As a matter of fact; the fumes/odors I smelled that day are like nothing I have ever smelled aboard any aircraft. I filled out 2 forms the mechanics brought with them addressing this issue. I feel that both of these forms; as well as my logbook entry; were disregarded as the mechanics claimed that they could not smell anything. It is my opinion that nothing was truly done to rectify the situation and that the airplane was simply given a clean bill of health and returned to service by Maintenance Control.These aircraft need a thorough check after one of these events. In this case I do not feel that the aircraft received the attention it needed. Maintenance made the decision that what I had smelled was burnt jet fuel from another aircraft before I even handed them the logbook with the write-up. This is not treating the cause; this is simply finding a quick solution that fits the symptoms.

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.