C208 pilot has fumes in the aircraft; notifies ATC and diverts to nearest airport.

Attributes
ACN	693589
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zma.artcc
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 96 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	693589
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

A strong odor developed in the aircraft. The source and nature of the odor could not be determined. No smoke was observed. When the odor continued to intensify; I contacted ATC; advised them of the situation; and asked for vectors to the nearest airport. I had donned the oxygen mask; as per company policy as regard to suspicious odors; but did not declare an emergency because in my mind this was precautionary. I had no redundant information which would indicate fire of electrical or engine nature. The source seemed to originate in the cockpit but infused the whole aircraft so quickly I could not pinpoint the location; so hazmat spill did not seem likely either. I had something happening that I knew was not right and I thought it best to analyze on the ground and not over the water; away from help. So I deviated to the nearest airport. I had no paper approach plates so ATC provided airport and runway information. I have GPS with this information but they were able to provide the information much quicker than I could dial it in. They provided excellent service. I landed. It turned out to be a failed avionics fan which was melting (plastic was bubbling) and hot avionics.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C208 PLT HAS FUMES IN THE ACFT; NOTIFIES ATC AND DIVERTS TO NEAREST ARPT.

Narrative: A STRONG ODOR DEVELOPED IN THE ACFT. THE SOURCE AND NATURE OF THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. NO SMOKE WAS OBSERVED. WHEN THE ODOR CONTINUED TO INTENSIFY; I CONTACTED ATC; ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION; AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. I HAD DONNED THE OXYGEN MASK; AS PER COMPANY POLICY AS REGARD TO SUSPICIOUS ODORS; BUT DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER BECAUSE IN MY MIND THIS WAS PRECAUTIONARY. I HAD NO REDUNDANT INFO WHICH WOULD INDICATE FIRE OF ELECTRICAL OR ENG NATURE. THE SOURCE SEEMED TO ORIGINATE IN THE COCKPIT BUT INFUSED THE WHOLE ACFT SO QUICKLY I COULD NOT PINPOINT THE LOCATION; SO HAZMAT SPILL DID NOT SEEM LIKELY EITHER. I HAD SOMETHING HAPPENING THAT I KNEW WAS NOT RIGHT AND I THOUGHT IT BEST TO ANALYZE ON THE GND AND NOT OVER THE WATER; AWAY FROM HELP. SO I DEVIATED TO THE NEAREST ARPT. I HAD NO PAPER APCH PLATES SO ATC PROVIDED ARPT AND RWY INFO. I HAVE GPS WITH THIS INFO BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFO MUCH QUICKER THAN I COULD DIAL IT IN. THEY PROVIDED EXCELLENT SVC. I LANDED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED AVIONICS FAN WHICH WAS MELTING (PLASTIC WAS BUBBLING) AND HOT AVIONICS.

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.