Narrative:

This report only addresses one aspect of the emergency. I feel that there are inadequate checklists in the QRH for our specific issue as well as the communication threats posed by the donning of O-2 masks when directed by the QRH; but not actually required by the emergency. In the descent for landing; the flight attendants reported a 'burning electrical smell.' the smell was the strongest mid-cabin and was initially reported by passengers. It was confirmed that there was no smoke and no fire. The smell was not 'noxious;' and the smell could not be smelled in the cockpit. The first issue that arose was that there are actually three checklists (smoke and fume elimination; cabin/lavatory fire; and smoke/fire/fumes in the flight deck) none of which addressed our specific issue. Given the potential for an electrical fire; I called for the cabin/lavatory fire checklist. The checklist directs that the either the smoke and fume elimination checklist or the smoke/fire/fumes in the flight deck checklist be accomplished first. Then the first step is oxygen masks/regulators-on/100%. However; with no visible smoke; the wearing of the masks was a liability that made communications more difficult. Also; there was no hot mic in our aircraft; and the comm panel on my side was non-standard. The buttons were in a different order and there was a ptt button instead of the more familiar transmit/ic switch. I directed that we remove the masks and keep them at the ready on our laps should smoke appear or a fire erupt. Many of the checklist items didn't apply to our situation and the many non-applicable notes were also hindering our ability to accomplish items specific to our situation. Given the rapid descent and approach to the field (we still had to accomplish normal checklists and fly the plane) and the increased coordination with ATC due our declaring an emergency (intentions; fuel and souls on board; coordination of equipment; etc.); and the need for regular updates and coordination with the cabin; we ended up cherry-picking the important items that would isolate electrical equipment in the cabin (galley power-off; gasper-off; recirc fan-off) and hopefully prevent the overheating equipment/short from becoming a fire. The flight attendants configured the cabin lighting per the QRH. Constructive suggestions are: 1. Add the words (if required) after the O2 masks/regulators-on/100% step. 2. When another checklist must be accomplished first; include those steps listed instead of a page reference that results in a page-flipping exercise right off the bat. 3. Develop a checklist for suspected electrical short with no visible smoke or fire or divide up the checklist into left and right columns: fire/smoke/fumes confirmed in lav or fire/smoke/fumes confirmed not in lav. 4. Hot mic. 5. Standard comm panel in all aircraft.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 Captain reported checklist selection and application confusion when dealing with a flight attendant reported non specific cabin electrical burning smell.

Narrative: This report only addresses one aspect of the emergency. I feel that there are inadequate checklists in the QRH for our specific issue as well as the communication threats posed by the donning of O-2 masks when directed by the QRH; but not actually required by the emergency. In the descent for landing; the flight attendants reported a 'burning electrical smell.' The smell was the strongest mid-cabin and was initially reported by Passengers. It was confirmed that there was no smoke and no fire. The smell was not 'noxious;' and the smell could not be smelled in the cockpit. The first issue that arose was that there are actually three checklists (Smoke and Fume Elimination; Cabin/Lavatory Fire; and Smoke/Fire/Fumes in the Flight deck) none of which addressed our specific issue. Given the potential for an electrical fire; I called for the Cabin/Lavatory Fire Checklist. The checklist directs that the either the Smoke and Fume Elimination Checklist or the Smoke/Fire/Fumes in the Flight deck Checklist be accomplished first. Then the first step is Oxygen Masks/Regulators-ON/100%. However; with no visible smoke; the wearing of the masks was a liability that made communications more difficult. Also; there was no hot Mic in our aircraft; and the comm panel on my side was non-standard. The buttons were in a different order and there was a PTT button instead of the more familiar XMIT/IC switch. I directed that we remove the masks and keep them at the ready on our laps should smoke appear or a fire erupt. Many of the checklist items didn't apply to our situation and the many non-applicable notes were also hindering our ability to accomplish items specific to our situation. Given the rapid descent and approach to the field (we still had to accomplish normal checklists and fly the plane) and the increased coordination with ATC due our declaring an emergency (intentions; fuel and souls on board; coordination of equipment; etc.); and the need for regular updates and coordination with the cabin; we ended up cherry-picking the important items that would isolate electrical equipment in the cabin (Galley Power-off; Gasper-off; RECIRC Fan-off) and hopefully prevent the overheating equipment/short from becoming a fire. The flight attendants configured the cabin lighting per the QRH. Constructive suggestions are: 1. Add the words (if required) after the O2 masks/regulators-On/100% step. 2. When another checklist must be accomplished first; include those steps listed instead of a page reference that results in a page-flipping exercise right off the bat. 3. Develop a checklist for Suspected Electrical Short with No Visible Smoke or Fire or divide up the checklist into left and right columns: Fire/Smoke/fumes CONFIRMED in Lav or Fire/Smoke/Fumes confirmed Not in Lav. 4. Hot Mic. 5. Standard comm panel in all aircraft.

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.