Small aircraft on training flight has smoke in cockpit. Return land.

Attributes
ACN	164804
Time
Date	199012
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crg
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : crg
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	164804
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was giving flight instruction in an small aircraft. 5 mins into the flight, smoke was seen and smelled in the cockpit. We immediately initiated a return to craig airport and ventilated the cockpit. Since we were cleared straight in to land, and there was no immediate indications of a worsening of the problem, I did not declare an emergency. On short final to the runway, small fumes were seen behind the fuel quantity gauges, and I informed craig tower that we had a possible fire in the cockpit. The fire truck was summoned, and followed us off the runway. I taxied to the ramp, since there were no further indications of fire. The incident was duly reported to the FAA and the NTSB. In retrospect, I should have informed the tower of the problem on my initial call, and told them I planned to shut off the master electrical switch. I could have then proceeded inbound to land under no radio procedures. This could possibly have prevented further development of fire, as the problem was later traced to a short circuit in a panel switch. However, the fact that I left the master on did give me communications with ATC, enabling me to get further assistance as needed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON TRAINING FLT HAS SMOKE IN COCKPIT. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: I WAS GIVING FLT INSTRUCTION IN AN SMA. 5 MINS INTO THE FLT, SMOKE WAS SEEN AND SMELLED IN THE COCKPIT. WE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A RETURN TO CRAIG ARPT AND VENTILATED THE COCKPIT. SINCE WE WERE CLRED STRAIGHT IN TO LAND, AND THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE INDICATIONS OF A WORSENING OF THE PROBLEM, I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. ON SHORT FINAL TO THE RWY, SMALL FUMES WERE SEEN BEHIND THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES, AND I INFORMED CRAIG TWR THAT WE HAD A POSSIBLE FIRE IN THE COCKPIT. THE FIRE TRUCK WAS SUMMONED, AND FOLLOWED US OFF THE RWY. I TAXIED TO THE RAMP, SINCE THERE WERE NO FURTHER INDICATIONS OF FIRE. THE INCIDENT WAS DULY REPORTED TO THE FAA AND THE NTSB. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE INFORMED THE TWR OF THE PROBLEM ON MY INITIAL CALL, AND TOLD THEM I PLANNED TO SHUT OFF THE MASTER ELECTRICAL SWITCH. I COULD HAVE THEN PROCEEDED INBOUND TO LAND UNDER NO RADIO PROCS. THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE PREVENTED FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE, AS THE PROBLEM WAS LATER TRACED TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN A PANEL SWITCH. HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT I LEFT THE MASTER ON DID GIVE ME COMS WITH ATC, ENABLING ME TO GET FURTHER ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.