Narrative:

Departing sea to the south on the summa departure and climbing out of 8;000 ft; the cabin crew communicated to us that they could smell a chemical odor throughout the cabin. We notified ATC and after leveloff at 12;000 ft; the cabin crew reported back that there was no smoke or visual vapor in the cabin; the location of the odor could not be located; crew and passengers were not feeling any abnormal effects but the odor was not dissipating. The decision was made for precautionary reasons; since the odor was not dissipating; to return to sea and coordination with ATC for the return was established. I; as captain; was the pilot flying and the first officer was pilot not flying. We decided to maintain our current duties and I directed the first officer to contact dispatch and operations while I maintained communication with ATC as pilot flying. On downwind and descent; I discussed the idea of donning our oxygen masks and smoke goggles and his analysis was that we were not detecting anything in the flight deck. Our discussion in the flight deck; combined with an updated report from the flight attendants that although the odor was still prevent but appeared to be more in the back of the aircraft cabin; I elected to continue without donning the mask and smoke goggles as we were just minutes from landing. We continued without further incident. All situations with odors and smells in the cabin can and will be different and potentially confusing. Our training is unclear as to when an odor or smell becomes fumes; therefore; requiring the initiation of the smoke/fumes or fire quick reference handbook checklist. Visible smoke; fire and fumes makes it very easy to trigger the smoke/fumes or fire checklist. If the intent is for us to always refer to this checklist with any odor or smell in the cabin then that fact should be communicated to the pilot group. If not; further and more in-depth training; discussion or guidance needs to be implemented in ground training.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 returned to departure airport due to reports of chemical smells in the cabin.

Narrative: Departing SEA to the south on the SUMMA Departure and climbing out of 8;000 FT; the cabin crew communicated to us that they could smell a chemical odor throughout the cabin. We notified ATC and after leveloff at 12;000 FT; the cabin crew reported back that there was no smoke or visual vapor in the cabin; the location of the odor could not be located; crew and passengers were not feeling any abnormal effects but the odor was not dissipating. The decision was made for precautionary reasons; since the odor was not dissipating; to return to SEA and coordination with ATC for the return was established. I; as Captain; was the pilot flying and the First Officer was pilot not flying. We decided to maintain our current duties and I directed the First Officer to contact Dispatch and operations while I maintained communication with ATC as pilot flying. On downwind and descent; I discussed the idea of donning our oxygen masks and smoke goggles and his analysis was that we were not detecting anything in the flight deck. Our discussion in the flight deck; combined with an updated report from the Flight Attendants that although the odor was still prevent but appeared to be more in the back of the aircraft cabin; I elected to continue without donning the mask and smoke goggles as we were just minutes from landing. We continued without further incident. All situations with odors and smells in the cabin can and will be different and potentially confusing. Our training is unclear as to when an odor or smell becomes fumes; therefore; requiring the initiation of the Smoke/Fumes or Fire Quick Reference Handbook checklist. Visible smoke; fire and fumes makes it very easy to trigger the Smoke/Fumes or Fire checklist. If the intent is for us to always refer to this checklist with any odor or smell in the cabin then that fact should be communicated to the pilot group. If not; further and more in-depth training; discussion or guidance needs to be implemented in ground training.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.