A319 flight crew diverts and lands in emergency condition due to an avionics smoke warning alarm.

Attributes
ACN	508438
Time
Date	200104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	508438
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : avionic smoke detector other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising at FL250, got 'avionics smoke warning.' this required landing as soon as possible, so we diverted to rdu airport -- almost directly underneath us. While we descended, we did the emergency checklist. A normal landing was made on runway 5R. Maintenance determined it was a false warning, and replaced the avionics smoke detector. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised that the flight crew coordinated the problem with ATC, donned their oxygen masks, and effected an emergency descent. Maintenance later advised that the computer compartment ventilation computer and smoke detector were replaced, but it was not immediately evident which equipment had faulted. In discussion with other pilots, none had encountered this problem. Being in the vicinity of an airport acceptable for their size was a plus, but the reporter stated that the checklist was a real challenge to complete prior to landing -- especially since the checklist required a number of computer un-power and re-power steps. Reporter was advised by maintenance that the equipment compartment ventilation computer 'had been changed out recently' but circumstances were unknown.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLC DIVERTS AND LANDS IN EMER CONDITION DUE TO AN AVIONICS SMOKE WARNING ALARM.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL250, GOT 'AVIONICS SMOKE WARNING.' THIS REQUIRED LNDG ASAP, SO WE DIVERTED TO RDU ARPT -- ALMOST DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH US. WHILE WE DSNDED, WE DID THE EMER CHKLIST. A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE ON RWY 5R. MAINT DETERMINED IT WAS A FALSE WARNING, AND REPLACED THE AVIONICS SMOKE DETECTOR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED THAT THE FLC COORDINATED THE PROB WITH ATC, DONNED THEIR OXYGEN MASKS, AND EFFECTED AN EMER DSCNT. MAINT LATER ADVISED THAT THE COMPUTER COMPARTMENT VENTILATION COMPUTER AND SMOKE DETECTOR WERE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT WHICH EQUIP HAD FAULTED. IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER PLTS, NONE HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS PROB. BEING IN THE VICINITY OF AN ARPT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEIR SIZE WAS A PLUS, BUT THE RPTR STATED THAT THE CHKLIST WAS A REAL CHALLENGE TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO LNDG -- ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CHKLIST REQUIRED A NUMBER OF COMPUTER UN-PWR AND RE-PWR STEPS. RPTR WAS ADVISED BY MAINT THAT THE EQUIP COMPARTMENT VENTILATION COMPUTER 'HAD BEEN CHANGED OUT RECENTLY' BUT CIRCUMSTANCES WERE UNKNOWN.

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.