A B737 in climb at 3000 ft declared an emergency and diverted due to an airframe vibration and oil s...

Attributes
ACN	424689
Time
Date	199812
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	424689
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other

Narrative:

During the climb out from tpa the crew experienced a sudden and continuous loud rumble and vibration. The vibration was severe enough to conclude that the entire airframe was shaking. We reduced our climb rate and reduced engine climb power. While we were trying to determine the cause of the vibration, the lead flight attendant called the cockpit on the interphone, informing us of the airframe vibration, the noise, a 'heavy oily smell,' and a cabin temperature increase. After hearing this information from the cabin, we decided to return to tpa as soon as possible. We informed ATC of our situation, and to be safe, told them to 'roll the trucks.' with the heavy oily smell, we also declared an emergency. A PA announcement was made informing the passenger of our return to tpa. The flight attendants told us everything was normal -- no more oily smell and everyone was seated with seat belts fastened. The lead fire/rescue personnel also stated everything looking normal about the aircraft exterior. Mechanics inspected all wing and nose cone surfaces, landing gear and doors, air conditioning packs. They found: 'left downstream flow control valve duct blown.' removed duct. Replaced duct and leak checked good.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 IN CLB AT 3000 FT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO AN AIRFRAME VIBRATION AND OIL SMELL CAUSED BY A FAILED L PACK FLOW CTL VALVE DUCTING.

Narrative: DURING THE CLBOUT FROM TPA THE CREW EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND CONTINUOUS LOUD RUMBLE AND VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CONCLUDE THAT THE ENTIRE AIRFRAME WAS SHAKING. WE REDUCED OUR CLB RATE AND REDUCED ENG CLB PWR. WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION, THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT CALLED THE COCKPIT ON THE INTERPHONE, INFORMING US OF THE AIRFRAME VIBRATION, THE NOISE, A 'HVY OILY SMELL,' AND A CABIN TEMP INCREASE. AFTER HEARING THIS INFO FROM THE CABIN, WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO TPA ASAP. WE INFORMED ATC OF OUR SIT, AND TO BE SAFE, TOLD THEM TO 'ROLL THE TRUCKS.' WITH THE HVY OILY SMELL, WE ALSO DECLARED AN EMER. A PA ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE INFORMING THE PAX OF OUR RETURN TO TPA. THE FLT ATTENDANTS TOLD US EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL -- NO MORE OILY SMELL AND EVERYONE WAS SEATED WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED. THE LEAD FIRE/RESCUE PERSONNEL ALSO STATED EVERYTHING LOOKING NORMAL ABOUT THE ACFT EXTERIOR. MECHS INSPECTED ALL WING AND NOSE CONE SURFACES, LNDG GEAR AND DOORS, AIR CONDITIONING PACKS. THEY FOUND: 'L DOWNSTREAM FLOW CTL VALVE DUCT BLOWN.' REMOVED DUCT. REPLACED DUCT AND LEAK CHKED GOOD.

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.

A B737 in climb at 3000 ft declared an emergency and diverted due to an airframe vibration and oil smell caused by a failed left pack flow control valve ducting.