B737 crew had acrid burning smell in cockpit in ZAU class a.

Attributes
ACN	479968
Time
Date	200007
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 22000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	479968
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Captain's use of emergency authority/authorized. On climb out from ord at about FL220 both the first officer and I instantly and simultaneously noticed the acrid eye burning smell of electrical fumes. We immediately donned our oxygen masks and declared an emergency returning to ord. I had the flight attendants brief the passenger and requested crash fire rescue equipment to stand by for landing at ord. Normal landing and after having crash fire rescue equipment check exterior of plane and found normal, we taxied to the gate. I briefed maintenance and completed the log entry.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW HAD ACRID BURNING SMELL IN COCKPIT IN ZAU CLASS A.

Narrative: CAPT'S USE OF EMER AUTH. ON CLBOUT FROM ORD AT ABOUT FL220 BOTH THE FO AND I INSTANTLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY NOTICED THE ACRID EYE BURNING SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FUMES. WE IMMEDIATELY DONNED OUR OXYGEN MASKS AND DECLARED AN EMER RETURNING TO ORD. I HAD THE FLT ATTENDANTS BRIEF THE PAX AND REQUESTED CFR TO STAND BY FOR LNDG AT ORD. NORMAL LNDG AND AFTER HAVING CFR CHK EXTERIOR OF PLANE AND FOUND NORMAL, WE TAXIED TO THE GATE. I BRIEFED MAINT AND COMPLETED THE LOG ENTRY.

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.