Newly required aisle lights were shorted out by an overflowed toilet in a citation CJ3; the single p...

Narrative:

In cruise flight at FL380; I smelled electrical smoke. I declared an emergency with center and requested an immediate descent. I was provided an immediate descent clearance to maintain FL190. I began an emergency descent. At this time there was no longer any smell of electrical smoke nor any indications in the flight deck or cabin of additional smoke/fire. I prepared myself for the electrical smoke/fire checklist. With the electrical smoke completely abated; I began a more modest descent. Center provided me with the nearest suitable (ZZZ) and executed the ILS to a normal landing. During postflight; I found a popped circuit breaker in the external baggage circuit breaker panel. It was labeled; 'dropped down aisle lights.' I informed my company and began the search with a qualified a&P mechanic in a hangar for the source. We discovered about 1 inch of aisle lights in front of the lavatory were melted; charred; and smelled. The carpet surrounding these lights was wet with potty water that included a sanitation product named 'clear lagoon.' it appears that the toilet overflowed and made the carpet wet and shorted out the aisle lights. The mechanical knife valve was 1/2 inch open and clogged with toilet paper. The valve was mechanically stopped when pulled open by a handle to carry the unit. Fully open; the valve should open about 3 inches. I provided the cessna technical library and wiring diagrams clearance delivery-roms to the mechanic. We consulted the mmel and followed it. He signed off the work and I dispatched the following morning. I believe the toilet could be better designed to prevent this from happening by having a containment system beneath the toilet to capture any fluid coming from the toilet. Additionally; the aisle lights in the carpet are not waterproof. This is the first cessna cj in the series that is in the commuter category and thus is required to have aisle lights. At a minimum; aisle lights in front of the lavatory should be waterproof.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Newly required aisle lights were shorted out by an overflowed toilet in a Citation CJ3; the single pilot; after recognizing smoke; declared an emergency and diverted.

Narrative: In cruise flight at FL380; I smelled electrical smoke. I declared an emergency with Center and requested an immediate descent. I was provided an immediate descent clearance to maintain FL190. I began an emergency descent. At this time there was no longer any smell of electrical smoke nor any indications in the flight deck or cabin of additional smoke/fire. I prepared myself for the Electrical Smoke/Fire checklist. With the electrical smoke completely abated; I began a more modest descent. Center provided me with the nearest suitable (ZZZ) and executed the ILS to a normal landing. During postflight; I found a popped CB in the external baggage CB panel. It was labeled; 'Dropped Down Aisle Lights.' I informed my company and began the search with a qualified A&P Mechanic in a hangar for the source. We discovered about 1 inch of aisle lights in front of the lavatory were melted; charred; and smelled. The carpet surrounding these lights was wet with potty water that included a sanitation product named 'Clear Lagoon.' It appears that the toilet overflowed and made the carpet wet and shorted out the aisle lights. The mechanical knife valve was 1/2 inch open and clogged with toilet paper. The valve was mechanically stopped when pulled open by a handle to carry the unit. Fully open; the valve should open about 3 inches. I provided the Cessna technical library and wiring diagrams CD-ROMS to the Mechanic. We consulted the MMEL and followed it. He signed off the work and I dispatched the following morning. I believe the toilet could be better designed to prevent this from happening by having a containment system beneath the toilet to capture any fluid coming from the toilet. Additionally; the aisle lights in the carpet are NOT waterproof. This is the first Cessna CJ in the series that is in the Commuter category and thus is required to have aisle lights. At a minimum; aisle lights in front of the lavatory should be waterproof.

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.

Attributes
ACN	832013
Time
Date	200904
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Citation III VI VII (C650)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fire Protection System
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 9800 Flight Crew Type 2200
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Newly required aisle lights were shorted out by an overflowed toilet in a citation CJ3; the single pilot; after recognizing smoke; declared an emergency and diverted.