A dash-8 captain reported a cargo smoke warning on final approach. An emergency was declared; a norm...

Attributes
ACN	982347
Time
Date	201111
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Dash 8-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cargo Compartment Fire/Overheat Warning
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 225 Flight Crew Total 12000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

While on an ILS approach we encountered a blinking warning annunciator and then it happened again and again and we were able to see that it was a smoke warning; so we declared an emergency; performed the memory action items; then the smoke warning checklist and continued the approach to a normal excellent landing; while also asking for the fire trucks who met us on the taxiway. We had our flight attendant confirm that there was actually no fire or smoke in the cargo hold and continued to the gate. We then wrote up the discrepancy; [and] called dispatch and maintenance. We spoke to the fire department and waited for maintenance. The plane was fixed and we continued with no further problems. Suggest new fire detectors that don't give erratic false indications.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Dash-8 Captain reported a cargo smoke warning on final approach. An emergency was declared; a normal landing ensued; and maintenance inspection revealed a malfunctioning detector.

Narrative: While on an ILS approach we encountered a blinking warning annunciator and then it happened again and again and we were able to see that it was a SMOKE Warning; so we declared an emergency; performed the memory action items; then the Smoke Warning Checklist and continued the approach to a normal excellent landing; while also asking for the fire trucks who met us on the taxiway. We had our Flight Attendant confirm that there was actually no fire or smoke in the cargo hold and continued to the gate. We then wrote up the discrepancy; [and] called Dispatch and Maintenance. We spoke to the Fire Department and waited for Maintenance. The plane was fixed and we continued with no further problems. Suggest new fire detectors that don't give erratic false indications.

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.

A dash-8 captain reported a cargo smoke warning on final approach. An emergency was declared; a normal landing ensued; and maintenance inspection revealed a malfunctioning detector.