MD90 crew reports strong burning plastic smell and returns to departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	720905
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-90 Series (DC-9-90) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 9200 flight time type : 5600
ASRS Report	720905
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Aircraft experienced a strong 'burning plastic' odor on the flight deck and in the cabin. Began near rotation and continued to approximately 4000 ft MSL. Engine parameters and air conditioning packs appeared to be normal. Crew donned oxygen masks and returned to sjc for an uneventful landing. Determination of the source of the odor is currently being investigated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD90 CREW RPTS STRONG BURNING PLASTIC SMELL AND RETURNS TO DEP ARPT.

Narrative: ACFT EXPERIENCED A STRONG 'BURNING PLASTIC' ODOR ON THE FLT DECK AND IN THE CABIN. BEGAN NEAR ROTATION AND CONTINUED TO APPROX 4000 FT MSL. ENGINE PARAMETERS AND AIR CONDITIONING PACKS APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. CREW DONNED OXYGEN MASKS AND RETURNED TO SJC FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. DETERMINATION OF THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED.

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.