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The crew of a B727-200 freighter declares an emergency when the so discovers paint thinner fumes in the cargo area. The aircraft was 130 mi southwest of mem and continues to mem, the destination airport, with crew wearing their smoke masks.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 408610 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199807 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mem |
| State Reference | TN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : second officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 106 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 408610 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence other other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
As I went from the cockpit to the cargo area to dispose of catering, I smelled a paint thinner type smell in the cargo area. I reported this to the captain and first officer and had the captain look into it. After a lot of discussion we decided to declare an emergency, put on oxygen masks and land at memphis. We discussed landing at little rock but because of runway construction, lack of customs, unknown availability of crash fire rescue equipment and known availability of crash fire rescue equipment at mem the crew decided to continue to mem. No crew member was concerned for the safety of flight, the problem seemed under control and my perceptions were that this was not a big deal, but FAA regulations required us (according to the fom) to declare emergency and land as soon as possible. Judgements: by continuing on to mem I think FAA will have a problem with it. I never felt diverting to little rock was necessary except maybe to satisfy the FAA. Question: am I too mission oriented?
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THE CREW OF A B727-200 FREIGHTER DECLARES AN EMER WHEN THE SO DISCOVERS PAINT THINNER FUMES IN THE CARGO AREA. THE ACFT WAS 130 MI SW OF MEM AND CONTINUES TO MEM, THE DEST ARPT, WITH CREW WEARING THEIR SMOKE MASKS.
Narrative: AS I WENT FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE CARGO AREA TO DISPOSE OF CATERING, I SMELLED A PAINT THINNER TYPE SMELL IN THE CARGO AREA. I RPTED THIS TO THE CAPT AND FO AND HAD THE CAPT LOOK INTO IT. AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSION WE DECIDED TO DECLARE AN EMER, PUT ON OXYGEN MASKS AND LAND AT MEMPHIS. WE DISCUSSED LNDG AT LITTLE ROCK BUT BECAUSE OF RWY CONSTRUCTION, LACK OF CUSTOMS, UNKNOWN AVAILABILITY OF CFR AND KNOWN AVAILABILITY OF CFR AT MEM THE CREW DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO MEM. NO CREW MEMBER WAS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF FLT, THE PROB SEEMED UNDER CTL AND MY PERCEPTIONS WERE THAT THIS WAS NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT FAA REGS REQUIRED US (ACCORDING TO THE FOM) TO DECLARE EMER AND LAND ASAP. JUDGEMENTS: BY CONTINUING ON TO MEM I THINK FAA WILL HAVE A PROB WITH IT. I NEVER FELT DIVERTING TO LITTLE ROCK WAS NECESSARY EXCEPT MAYBE TO SATISFY THE FAA. QUESTION: AM I TOO MISSION ORIENTED?
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.