A B767-300 in cruise at FL390 declared an emergency and diverted due to grinding noise forward cabin...

Attributes
ACN	578607
Time
Date	200303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 39000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eicas warning other other : person 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During level cruise at FL390 in vicinity of ZZZ, approximately 200 NM from ZZZ2, flight attendant's reported grinding noise from the forward first officer side of the aircraft. Shortly afterwards an acrid electrical smell pervaded the flight deck. We donned oxygen masks and performed the 'smoke and fumes' checklist. We declared an emergency and diverted towards ZZZ2. Approximately 50 NM from ZZZ1, ATC suggested ZZZ1 and simultaneously the flight attendant's reported the fumes in the cabin attendant worsening. We diverted to ZZZ1. Fire crew met the aircraft and inspected the exterior reporting no observable abnormalities. Fumes were no worse on the ground, and we elected to taxi to the gate with the fire trucks following as a precaution. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the cause of the grinding noise and electrical fumes was a seized forward electrical and electronic compartment exhaust fan. The reporter said the circuit breaker for the exhaust fan did not trip. The reporter stated the fumes were intensive enough to require oxygen masks for the crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 IN CRUISE AT FL390 DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO GRINDING NOISE FORWARD CABIN AND ELECTRICAL FUMES. CAUSED BY FORWARD ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT EXHAUST FAN SEIZED.

Narrative: DURING LEVEL CRUISE AT FL390 IN VICINITY OF ZZZ, APPROX 200 NM FROM ZZZ2, FA'S RPTED GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FORWARD FO SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS AN ACRID ELECTRICAL SMELL PERVADED THE FLT DECK. WE DONNED OXYGEN MASKS AND PERFORMED THE 'SMOKE AND FUMES' CHKLIST. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TOWARDS ZZZ2. APPROX 50 NM FROM ZZZ1, ATC SUGGESTED ZZZ1 AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THE FA'S RPTED THE FUMES IN THE CAB WORSENING. WE DIVERTED TO ZZZ1. FIRE CREW MET THE ACFT AND INSPECTED THE EXTERIOR RPTING NO OBSERVABLE ABNORMALITIES. FUMES WERE NO WORSE ON THE GND, AND WE ELECTED TO TAXI TO THE GATE WITH THE FIRE TRUCKS FOLLOWING AS A PRECAUTION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE CAUSE OF THE GRINDING NOISE AND ELECTRICAL FUMES WAS A SEIZED FORWARD ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC COMPARTMENT EXHAUST FAN. THE RPTR SAID THE CB FOR THE EXHAUST FAN DID NOT TRIP. THE RPTR STATED THE FUMES WERE INTENSIVE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE OXYGEN MASKS FOR THE CREW.

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.

A B767-300 in cruise at FL390 declared an emergency and diverted due to grinding noise forward cabin and electrical fumes. Caused by forward electronic and electrical compartment exhaust fan seized.