ATR72 flight crew has sparks and smoke emitting from a light fixture during takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	590975
Time
Date	200308
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2150 flight time type : 630
ASRS Report	590975
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated aircraft : evacuated controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During takeoff roll at approximately 100 KTS, the flight attendant called the cockpit. V1 was at 111 KTS so we ignored the first call. After rotation at approximately 300 ft, the flight attendant called the cockpit again. I answered the call. The flight attendant stated there were sparks and smoke coming from a light in the overhead panel (above the passenger). The captain declared an emergency stating that we had a fire in the cabin. We were immediately cleared to land. Because of our close proximity to the airport and after checking again with the flight attendants to find that the sparks and smoke had stopped, we decided not to run any emergency checklists and concentrate on landing as soon as possible. All normal checklists were accomplished and we landed. We evacuate/evacuationed on the taxiway after clearing the runway using the main cabin door only. I think the sparks and smoke were caused by the ballast in a fluorescent light.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATR72 FLT CREW HAS SPARKS AND SMOKE EMITTING FROM A LIGHT FIXTURE DURING TKOF.

Narrative: DURING TKOF ROLL AT APPROX 100 KTS, THE FLT ATTENDANT CALLED THE COCKPIT. V1 WAS AT 111 KTS SO WE IGNORED THE FIRST CALL. AFTER ROTATION AT APPROX 300 FT, THE FLT ATTENDANT CALLED THE COCKPIT AGAIN. I ANSWERED THE CALL. THE FLT ATTENDANT STATED THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE COMING FROM A LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD PANEL (ABOVE THE PAX). THE CAPT DECLARED AN EMER STATING THAT WE HAD A FIRE IN THE CABIN. WE WERE IMMEDIATELY CLRED TO LAND. BECAUSE OF OUR CLOSE PROX TO THE ARPT AND AFTER CHKING AGAIN WITH THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO FIND THAT THE SPARKS AND SMOKE HAD STOPPED, WE DECIDED NOT TO RUN ANY EMER CHKLISTS AND CONCENTRATE ON LNDG ASAP. ALL NORMAL CHKLISTS WERE ACCOMPLISHED AND WE LANDED. WE EVACED ON THE TXWY AFTER CLRING THE RWY USING THE MAIN CABIN DOOR ONLY. I THINK THE SPARKS AND SMOKE WERE CAUSED BY THE BALLAST IN A FLUORESCENT LIGHT.

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.