Narrative:

At 12000 ft and climbing, we experienced a strong smell and light smoke in cabin. We elected to return to land at msp as the problem did not dissipate. We had the equipment standing by but did not declare an emergency as we were given direct to airport vectors. Also, this had happened to another crew the previous day. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter indicated maintenance found the APU was losing fluid into the air conditioning pack and producing smoke. This is reported to be not an unusual occurrence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS 320 FLC DETECTED THE STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT DURING CLB FROM MSP AND RETURNED FOR LNDG.

Narrative: AT 12000 FT AND CLBING, WE EXPERIENCED A STRONG SMELL AND LIGHT SMOKE IN CABIN. WE ELECTED TO RETURN TO LAND AT MSP AS THE PROB DID NOT DISSIPATE. WE HAD THE EQUIP STANDING BY BUT DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER AS WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT TO ARPT VECTORS. ALSO, THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ANOTHER CREW THE PREVIOUS DAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR INDICATED MAINT FOUND THE APU WAS LOSING FLUID INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING PACK AND PRODUCING SMOKE. THIS IS RPTED TO BE NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE.

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.