E135 crew detected an unusual odor in cockpit after takeoff from dfw.

Attributes
ACN	585216
Time
Date	200306
Day	Fri
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon tower : cll.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 135 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	585216
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Shortly after departure from dfw, we noticed an unusual odor apparently coming from the bleeds. Although we could not identify it, there was no indication of smoke or that it could be any kind of hazardous fumes. This thought was reinforced by the fact that this was the first flight after an engine change caused by an overtemp, accompanied by a metallic smell. Therefore, I decided that an immediate return was not necessary, however, I did contact maintenance for their input. They told me that due to the specifics of the previous engine failure -- what I was smelling was very likely a residual from before. Since the crew agreed that the smell was dissipating, I decided that it would be ok to continue the flight. Things proceeded normally until after beginning descent, at which time the smell returned, but just as before with no signs of smoke, and engine cockpit indications remained normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E135 CREW DETECTED AN UNUSUAL ODOR IN COCKPIT AFTER TKOF FROM DFW.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER DEP FROM DFW, WE NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ODOR APPARENTLY COMING FROM THE BLEEDS. ALTHOUGH WE COULD NOT IDENT IT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF SMOKE OR THAT IT COULD BE ANY KIND OF HAZARDOUS FUMES. THIS THOUGHT WAS REINFORCED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST FLT AFTER AN ENG CHANGE CAUSED BY AN OVERTEMP, ACCOMPANIED BY A METALLIC SMELL. THEREFORE, I DECIDED THAT AN IMMEDIATE RETURN WAS NOT NECESSARY, HOWEVER, I DID CONTACT MAINT FOR THEIR INPUT. THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO THE SPECIFICS OF THE PREVIOUS ENG FAILURE -- WHAT I WAS SMELLING WAS VERY LIKELY A RESIDUAL FROM BEFORE. SINCE THE CREW AGREED THAT THE SMELL WAS DISSIPATING, I DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE OK TO CONTINUE THE FLT. THINGS PROCEEDED NORMALLY UNTIL AFTER BEGINNING DSCNT, AT WHICH TIME THE SMELL RETURNED, BUT JUST AS BEFORE WITH NO SIGNS OF SMOKE, AND ENG COCKPIT INDICATIONS REMAINED NORMAL.

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.