Emergency declared because of smoke in the cabin.

Attributes
ACN	324082
Time
Date	199512
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mrb
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 3800
ASRS Report	324082
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Approximately 10 mins into flight xx (air carrier commuter), a passenger notified crew of smoke in cabin. Verified the report, notified ATC with request to return to dulles, and declared an emergency. Complied with aircraft QRH procedures. After landing, cleared runway, informed ATC emergency status no longer required and returned to gate. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the cause of the smoke in the cabin was a defective air conditioning pack. In this case it had leaked some oil, which was blown into the cabin. The result is a visual smoke and an odor of oil. By turning the pack off the smoke ceased instantly and everything went to normal operation. By that time though, the emergency had been declared, so the flight crew returned to originating station as all the emergency vehicles and preparations had been made for their arrival. Maintenance replaced the defective air conditioning pack.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DECLARED BECAUSE OF SMOKE IN THE CABIN.

Narrative: APPROX 10 MINS INTO FLT XX (ACR COMMUTER), A PAX NOTIFIED CREW OF SMOKE IN CABIN. VERIFIED THE RPT, NOTIFIED ATC WITH REQUEST TO RETURN TO DULLES, AND DECLARED AN EMER. COMPLIED WITH ACFT QRH PROCS. AFTER LNDG, CLRED RWY, INFORMED ATC EMER STATUS NO LONGER REQUIRED AND RETURNED TO GATE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE IN THE CABIN WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITIONING PACK. IN THIS CASE IT HAD LEAKED SOME OIL, WHICH WAS BLOWN INTO THE CABIN. THE RESULT IS A VISUAL SMOKE AND AN ODOR OF OIL. BY TURNING THE PACK OFF THE SMOKE CEASED INSTANTLY AND EVERYTHING WENT TO NORMAL OP. BY THAT TIME THOUGH, THE EMER HAD BEEN DECLARED, SO THE FLC RETURNED TO ORIGINATING STATION AS ALL THE EMER VEHICLES AND PREPARATIONS HAD BEEN MADE FOR THEIR ARR. MAINT REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITIONING PACK.

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.