<< >> NASA ASRS Report 476074, June 2000

An MD80 in cruise at FL310 diverts due to fumes in the cockpit and cabin caused by a failed cabin fluorescent light ballast.

Attributes
ACN	476074
Time
Date	200006
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abq.airport
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	476074
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In cruise at FL310 we noticed a strong smell. Notified flight attendants. They as well as passenger also noticed strong smell. After trying to identify source, we decided to deviate to abq. We could not determine source, only that it was in the front portion of the aircraft. We turned galley power, ovens, etc, off. Smell remained. After deciding to divert to abq, we attempted to call dispatch on commercial radio. After landing at abq, crash fire rescue equipment met us at runway. We cleared runway and taxied to the gate after crash fire rescue equipment said nothing was visible. As we taxied, the fumes were still noticeable. No smoke was ever observed. After a couple mins, passenger deplaned and a bad light ballast was found.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 IN CRUISE AT FL310 DIVERTS DUE TO FUMES IN THE COCKPIT AND CABIN CAUSED BY A FAILED CABIN FLUORESCENT LIGHT BALLAST.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT FL310 WE NOTICED A STRONG SMELL. NOTIFIED FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY AS WELL AS PAX ALSO NOTICED STRONG SMELL. AFTER TRYING TO IDENT SOURCE, WE DECIDED TO DEVIATE TO ABQ. WE COULD NOT DETERMINE SOURCE, ONLY THAT IT WAS IN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE ACFT. WE TURNED GALLEY PWR, OVENS, ETC, OFF. SMELL REMAINED. AFTER DECIDING TO DIVERT TO ABQ, WE ATTEMPTED TO CALL DISPATCH ON COMMERCIAL RADIO. AFTER LNDG AT ABQ, CFR MET US AT RWY. WE CLRED RWY AND TAXIED TO THE GATE AFTER CFR SAID NOTHING WAS VISIBLE. AS WE TAXIED, THE FUMES WERE STILL NOTICEABLE. NO SMOKE WAS EVER OBSERVED. AFTER A COUPLE MINS, PAX DEPLANED AND A BAD LIGHT BALLAST WAS FOUND.

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.