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A320 flight crew is informed of electrical sparks beneath passenger seats in the cabin. Crew diverts to the nearest suitable airport while the captain preforms the QRH procedure for smoke and fumes and flight attendants use fire extinguishers on the sparks. Flight lands safely and passengers are deplaned at the gate. All power is removed from the aircraft before the electrical sparking stops. The crew accepts assignment to continue to destination in another aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 956017 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201106 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 5000 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying First Officer |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 220 Flight Crew Total 19000 Flight Crew Type 3900 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor |
Narrative:
The first flight attendant called the cockpit to inform that there were sparks coming from the floor below a seat and was using a fire extinguisher and that she would get back to us. I discussed diversion options with the first officer. Shortly flight attendant advised me that the extinguisher did not put out the sparks and were deploying the second extinguisher. I declared an emergency with ATC and advised them that we needed to divert. I ran the smoke fumes fire QRH while the first officer flew the aircraft. I spoke with flight attendant several times as she advised that the sparks did not subside. I told her the time to land and to prep for evacuation but would check in again with her. I notified dispatch via ACARS that we were diverting and to have fire and rescue ready. Flight attendant advised that there were still sparks but not as bad. We landed and taxied clear of the runway. Flight attendant informed me that the sparks had stopped so I elected to taxi to gate and deplane via jetbridge. Passengers were deplaned quickly without there bags. Fire and rescue found a bare wire under the seat that was wet and appeared to be the cause. We had to totally power down the aircraft to get the sparks to completely stop.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A320 flight crew is informed of electrical sparks beneath passenger seats in the cabin. Crew diverts to the nearest suitable airport while the Captain preforms the QRH procedure for smoke and fumes and flight attendants use fire extinguishers on the sparks. Flight lands safely and passengers are deplaned at the gate. All power is removed from the aircraft before the electrical sparking stops. The crew accepts assignment to continue to destination in another aircraft.
Narrative: The First Flight Attendant called the cockpit to inform that there were sparks coming from the floor below a seat and was using a fire extinguisher and that she would get back to us. I discussed diversion options with the First Officer. Shortly Flight Attendant advised me that the extinguisher did not put out the sparks and were deploying the second extinguisher. I declared an emergency with ATC and advised them that we needed to divert. I ran the smoke fumes fire QRH while the First Officer flew the aircraft. I spoke with Flight Attendant several times as she advised that the sparks did not subside. I told her the time to land and to prep for evacuation but would check in again with her. I notified Dispatch via ACARS that we were diverting and to have fire and rescue ready. Flight Attendant advised that there were still sparks but not as bad. We landed and taxied clear of the runway. Flight Attendant informed me that the sparks had stopped so I elected to taxi to gate and deplane via jetbridge. Passengers were deplaned quickly without there bags. Fire and rescue found a bare wire under the seat that was wet and appeared to be the cause. We had to totally power down the aircraft to get the sparks to completely stop.
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.