<< >> NASA ASRS Report 452045, October 1999

An A320 returns to ord after the aft flight attendant reports noxious fumes emanating from the aft galley. PIC exceeds the 250 KT speed restr under 10000 ft, west of ord, il.

Attributes
ACN	452045
Time
Date	199910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	452045
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event other other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : cab 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Upon takeoff, I (first officer) smelled burned plastic (noxious smell). Climbing through 5000 ft MSL, the lead flight attendant came into cockpit to advise us of a strong smell similar to electrical fire in the aft galley. We leveled at 10000 ft MSL to further investigate and decided to declare an emergency and return to airport of departure (ord). Emergency equipment met and inspected aircraft and found no immediate evidence of electrical fire or smoke. All indications in flight deck were normal. Supplemental information from acn 452560: cockpit crew donned oxygen masks. After landing, no exterior smoke observed. Speed below 10000 ft exceeded 300 KTS to expedite arrival.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 RETURNS TO ORD AFTER THE AFT FLT ATTENDANT RPTS NOXIOUS FUMES EMANATING FROM THE AFT GALLEY. PIC EXCEEDS THE 250 KT SPD RESTR UNDER 10000 FT, W OF ORD, IL.

Narrative: UPON TKOF, I (FO) SMELLED BURNED PLASTIC (NOXIOUS SMELL). CLBING THROUGH 5000 FT MSL, THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT CAME INTO COCKPIT TO ADVISE US OF A STRONG SMELL SIMILAR TO ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE AFT GALLEY. WE LEVELED AT 10000 FT MSL TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE AND DECIDED TO DECLARE AN EMER AND RETURN TO ARPT OF DEP (ORD). EMER EQUIP MET AND INSPECTED ACFT AND FOUND NO IMMEDIATE EVIDENCE OF ELECTRICAL FIRE OR SMOKE. ALL INDICATIONS IN FLT DECK WERE NORMAL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 452560: COCKPIT CREW DONNED OXYGEN MASKS. AFTER LNDG, NO EXTERIOR SMOKE OBSERVED. SPD BELOW 10000 FT EXCEEDED 300 KTS TO EXPEDITE ARR.

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.