C560XL captain reported an uneventful air return due to smoke in cockpit shortly after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	1753184
Time
Date	202007
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Citation Excel (C560XL)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	APU
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 2500 Flight Crew Type 350
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Narrative:

We departure in our normal configuration with the APU running. Shortly after takeoff we noticed light smoke in the cockpit and cabin. We requested a priority landing and were given vectors to back to the airport. At this point we shutdown the APU and immediately the smoke started to dissipate. We reviewed emergency procedure for smoke in the cockpit and made a normal landing without incident. After the pax deplaned we started troubleshooting with our mechanic. As such; we started just the APU and after a couple of minutes we turned on the blower; immediately we started getting smoke in the cockpit. At this point we shutdown the APU.with the APU stowed we did a battery start on the engines; and taxied the aircraft to run up spot on the field; set the brake and increased power to climb. After a couple of minutes with no smoke or odor we determined that the problem is with the APU. After consulting the aircraft's master mel list we determined we could dispatch with the APU being labeled inop.after consulting with maintenance over the phone I determined the aircraft was safe to operate per 91.213. At that point we took off empty to destination and landed without incident.in retrospect I am concerned that we may have or not have dispatched with other inoperative equipment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C560XL Captain reported an uneventful air return due to smoke in cockpit shortly after takeoff.

Narrative: We departure in our normal configuration with the APU running. Shortly after takeoff we noticed light smoke in the cockpit and cabin. We requested a priority landing and were given vectors to back to the airport. At this point we shutdown the APU and immediately the smoke started to dissipate. We reviewed emergency procedure for smoke in the cockpit and made a normal landing without incident. After the pax deplaned we started troubleshooting with our Mechanic. As such; we started just the APU and after a couple of minutes we turned on the blower; immediately we started getting smoke in the cockpit. At this point we shutdown the APU.With the APU stowed we did a battery start on the engines; and taxied the aircraft to run up spot on the field; set the brake and increased power to climb. After a couple of minutes with no smoke or odor we determined that the problem is with the APU. After consulting the Aircraft's Master Mel list we determined we could dispatch with the APU being labeled inop.After consulting with maintenance over the phone I determined the aircraft was safe to operate per 91.213. At that point we took off empty to destination and landed without incident.In retrospect I am concerned that we may have or not have dispatched with other inoperative equipment.

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.