MD11 diverts to anc with smoke in cabin.

Attributes
ACN	429542
Time
Date	199902
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : neonn
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	429542
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewb other other : cab5
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Just past neonn, one of the flight attendants called and said she smelled a strong electrical burning smell. Seconds later, another flight attendant came to the cockpit to say the same thing. First flight attendant went back and reported that it was a strong burning smell and that there was a loud rattling sound coming from the ceiling aft of first class and forward of business class. One of the flight attendants turned the video system off. The smell started to dissipate but we could not confirm the source of the fumes. We declared an emergency, squawked 7700, and requested a turn to anc. We considered using cold bay or king salmon as a diversion, but since the smell had dissipated we continued to anc. Kudos should go to purser for an outstanding job throughout this whole situation. Zan was most helpful and deserves thanks. Also, xyz FBO in anc did a great job of handling the aircraft, the passenger, and the crew. Upon arrival at anc, we were met at the jetbridge by the FAA and NTSB representatives.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 DIVERTS TO ANC WITH SMOKE IN CABIN.

Narrative: JUST PAST NEONN, ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS CALLED AND SAID SHE SMELLED A STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. SECONDS LATER, ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT CAME TO THE COCKPIT TO SAY THE SAME THING. FIRST FLT ATTENDANT WENT BACK AND RPTED THAT IT WAS A STRONG BURNING SMELL AND THAT THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE CEILING AFT OF FIRST CLASS AND FORWARD OF BUSINESS CLASS. ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS TURNED THE VIDEO SYS OFF. THE SMELL STARTED TO DISSIPATE BUT WE COULD NOT CONFIRM THE SOURCE OF THE FUMES. WE DECLARED AN EMER, SQUAWKED 7700, AND REQUESTED A TURN TO ANC. WE CONSIDERED USING COLD BAY OR KING SALMON AS A DIVERSION, BUT SINCE THE SMELL HAD DISSIPATED WE CONTINUED TO ANC. KUDOS SHOULD GO TO PURSER FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE SIT. ZAN WAS MOST HELPFUL AND DESERVES THANKS. ALSO, XYZ FBO IN ANC DID A GREAT JOB OF HANDLING THE ACFT, THE PAX, AND THE CREW. UPON ARR AT ANC, WE WERE MET AT THE JETBRIDGE BY THE FAA AND NTSB REPRESENTATIVES.

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.