A CL65 on takeoff climb declared an emergency and diverted due to lavatory smoke warning and strong ...

Attributes
ACN	647646
Time
Date	200502
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 318 flight time total : 3840 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	647646
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : lav smoke warning other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other Other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : testing
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was the PIC on flight abcd on feb/fri/05; ZZZ-ZZZ1. Upon departing ZZZ; after liftoff; received a master warning of 'lavatory smoke' as well as smelling a strong odor. We told tower we had to return to the field and to stand by. We spoke to the flight attendants. They heard a warning bell and they too smelled the smoky odor. We were handed over to departure and told them the situation. Requested an altitude and heading so we could perform checklists. We declared the emergency. The 'lavatory smoke' indication remained on for 5-7 mins and then disappeared. We returned to the field. Mechanics boarded the aircraft and told them what happened. They told me that they had compression-washed the engines during the night shift and that was what probably caused the 'lavatory smoke' indication. They said they wanted to take the aircraft and run a high speed test and would let me know what the result was. I asked the mechanic if he wanted me to write up the problem. I was starting to do it and he said not to worry about it and they would take care of it. Myself and my crew went into the terminal. About 15 mins later; I received a call from maintenance control in ZZZ2 stating that I did not 'write up' the problem. I had this similar situation occur 3 1/2 yrs ago and we returned to field without declaring an emergency. The 'lavatory smoke' indication illuminated and then disappeared. There was no odor. After returning to the field; I had called maintenance control and explained what happened. I was informed that there was nothing to write up because the message disappeared. I thought this was the same type of situation and after speaking to the mechanic and he knew why the 'lavatory smoke' went on. The aircraft was signed back into service and flew the flight to ZZZ1. I spoke with our 2 chief pilots in ZZZ2. I was told that I had to fly back to clt and meet with our east coast chief pilot for training. The company self-disclosed to the FAA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CL65 ON TKOF CLB DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO LAVATORY SMOKE WARNING AND STRONG ODOR. CAUSED BY ENG COMPRESSOR CLEANER.

Narrative: I WAS THE PIC ON FLT ABCD ON FEB/FRI/05; ZZZ-ZZZ1. UPON DEPARTING ZZZ; AFTER LIFTOFF; RECEIVED A MASTER WARNING OF 'LAVATORY SMOKE' AS WELL AS SMELLING A STRONG ODOR. WE TOLD TWR WE HAD TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND TO STAND BY. WE SPOKE TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY HEARD A WARNING BELL AND THEY TOO SMELLED THE SMOKY ODOR. WE WERE HANDED OVER TO DEP AND TOLD THEM THE SIT. REQUESTED AN ALT AND HDG SO WE COULD PERFORM CHKLISTS. WE DECLARED THE EMER. THE 'LAVATORY SMOKE' INDICATION REMAINED ON FOR 5-7 MINS AND THEN DISAPPEARED. WE RETURNED TO THE FIELD. MECHS BOARDED THE ACFT AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD COMPRESSION-WASHED THE ENGS DURING THE NIGHT SHIFT AND THAT WAS WHAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE 'LAVATORY SMOKE' INDICATION. THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO TAKE THE ACFT AND RUN A HIGH SPD TEST AND WOULD LET ME KNOW WHAT THE RESULT WAS. I ASKED THE MECH IF HE WANTED ME TO WRITE UP THE PROB. I WAS STARTING TO DO IT AND HE SAID NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. MYSELF AND MY CREW WENT INTO THE TERMINAL. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER; I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MAINT CTL IN ZZZ2 STATING THAT I DID NOT 'WRITE UP' THE PROB. I HAD THIS SIMILAR SIT OCCUR 3 1/2 YRS AGO AND WE RETURNED TO FIELD WITHOUT DECLARING AN EMER. THE 'LAVATORY SMOKE' INDICATION ILLUMINATED AND THEN DISAPPEARED. THERE WAS NO ODOR. AFTER RETURNING TO THE FIELD; I HAD CALLED MAINT CTL AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO WRITE UP BECAUSE THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE SAME TYPE OF SIT AND AFTER SPEAKING TO THE MECH AND HE KNEW WHY THE 'LAVATORY SMOKE' WENT ON. THE ACFT WAS SIGNED BACK INTO SVC AND FLEW THE FLT TO ZZZ1. I SPOKE WITH OUR 2 CHIEF PLTS IN ZZZ2. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO FLY BACK TO CLT AND MEET WITH OUR EAST COAST CHIEF PLT FOR TRAINING. THE COMPANY SELF-DISCLOSED TO THE FAA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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 CL65 on takeoff climb declared an emergency and diverted due to lavatory smoke warning and strong odor. Caused by engine compressor cleaner.