Smoke and fire main circuit breaker panel. Emergency declared and returned to departure station. Air...

Attributes
ACN	81307
Time
Date	198801
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dal
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 487 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw tower : dal
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	81307
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Departed dallas love at xa 45L enroute to hou/hobby (aircraft-light transport). At level-off (27000), smoke and fire broke out from circuit breaker panel #1 (behind captain's seat), ATC was notified, emergency descent initiated, O2 masks on and checklist items all accomplished (all within same time frame). We were half way to houston at time of emergency. Stopped descent at approximately 4500' heading toward dallas and began searching for emergency field. At 60 miles from dallas, reestablished contact with ATC (ft.worth center) and continued toward dallas love. This decision was based on the need for a long runway and fire fighting equipment. (Many of the aircraft systems were lost and the circuit breaker panel was still smoltering). Touchdown was approximately 150 KTS. Thrust reversers were deployed, however buckets did not activate. Aircraft initially decelerated but began to accelerate rapidly. Thrust reverse levers could be stowed (both pilots exerted much force in this attempt) deplorable condition of rw 31L at dallas love complicated our efforts in handling the thrust reverse problem. Decision was made to steer for the soft infield (to aid in stopping) aircraft stopped 12' short of embankment. All evacuated (3 passenger) with no injuries.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMOKE AND FIRE MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL. EMERGENCY DECLARED AND RETURNED TO DEP STATION. ACFT OFF RWY ON LNDG ACCOUNT REVERSE LEVER COULD NOT BE PUT IN IDLE.

Narrative: DEPARTED DALLAS LOVE AT XA 45L ENROUTE TO HOU/HOBBY (ACFT-LTT). AT LEVEL-OFF (27000), SMOKE AND FIRE BROKE OUT FROM CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL #1 (BEHIND CAPT'S SEAT), ATC WAS NOTIFIED, EMER DESCENT INITIATED, O2 MASKS ON AND CHECKLIST ITEMS ALL ACCOMPLISHED (ALL WITHIN SAME TIME FRAME). WE WERE HALF WAY TO HOUSTON AT TIME OF EMER. STOPPED DESCENT AT APPROX 4500' HEADING TOWARD DALLAS AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR EMER FIELD. AT 60 MILES FROM DALLAS, REESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH ATC (FT.WORTH CENTER) AND CONTINUED TOWARD DALLAS LOVE. THIS DECISION WAS BASED ON THE NEED FOR A LONG RWY AND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT. (MANY OF THE ACFT SYSTEMS WERE LOST AND THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL WAS STILL SMOLTERING). TOUCHDOWN WAS APPROX 150 KTS. THRUST REVERSERS WERE DEPLOYED, HOWEVER BUCKETS DID NOT ACTIVATE. ACFT INITIALLY DECELERATED BUT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THRUST REVERSE LEVERS COULD BE STOWED (BOTH PILOTS EXERTED MUCH FORCE IN THIS ATTEMPT) DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF RW 31L AT DALLAS LOVE COMPLICATED OUR EFFORTS IN HANDLING THE THRUST REVERSE PROBLEM. DECISION WAS MADE TO STEER FOR THE SOFT INFIELD (TO AID IN STOPPING) ACFT STOPPED 12' SHORT OF EMBANKMENT. ALL EVACUATED (3 PAX) WITH NO INJURIES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

Smoke and fire main circuit breaker panel. Emergency declared and returned to departure station. Aircraft off runway on landing account reverse lever could not be put in idle.