EA30 crew had hydraulic failure and fumes in cabin.

Attributes
ACN	464982
Time
Date	200002
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	464982
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event : passenger misconduct other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Aircraft about to level at FL310 when we received an ECAM warning of 'hydraulic B low pressure' and other smaller messages. We accomplished appropriate procedures, had the situation stabilized and after discussion with company dispatch had begun a divert to dtw. Soon thereafter, flight attendant entered cockpit and reported 'fumes' in the cabin. We declared an emergency with ATC at that time and began to discuss a closer airport. Immediately thereafter we received a follow-up report from the flight attendant of 'no smoke' and fumes dissipating quickly. Continued uneventfully to dtw. Later (on ground) discovered that a 'deadheading' pilot had witnessed a passenger 'lighting and sniffing' some material. Adjacent passenger quickly demanded that the material be extinguished. It was. Point to be made: no one especially 'deadheading' employee advised cabin crew that something had been ignited in the cabin. This obviously led to a brief false alarm of a much more serious problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EA30 CREW HAD HYD FAILURE AND FUMES IN CABIN.

Narrative: ACFT ABOUT TO LEVEL AT FL310 WHEN WE RECEIVED AN ECAM WARNING OF 'HYD B LOW PRESSURE' AND OTHER SMALLER MESSAGES. WE ACCOMPLISHED APPROPRIATE PROCS, HAD THE SIT STABILIZED AND AFTER DISCUSSION WITH COMPANY DISPATCH HAD BEGUN A DIVERT TO DTW. SOON THEREAFTER, FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED COCKPIT AND RPTED 'FUMES' IN THE CABIN. WE DECLARED AN EMER WITH ATC AT THAT TIME AND BEGAN TO DISCUSS A CLOSER ARPT. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER WE RECEIVED A FOLLOW-UP RPT FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT OF 'NO SMOKE' AND FUMES DISSIPATING QUICKLY. CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY TO DTW. LATER (ON GND) DISCOVERED THAT A 'DEADHEADING' PLT HAD WITNESSED A PAX 'LIGHTING AND SNIFFING' SOME MATERIAL. ADJACENT PAX QUICKLY DEMANDED THAT THE MATERIAL BE EXTINGUISHED. IT WAS. POINT TO BE MADE: NO ONE ESPECIALLY 'DEADHEADING' EMPLOYEE ADVISED CABIN CREW THAT SOMETHING HAD BEEN IGNITED IN THE CABIN. THIS OBVIOUSLY LED TO A BRIEF FALSE ALARM OF A MUCH MORE SERIOUS PROB.

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.