Light transport aircraft. TCASII failed causing burning odor in the cockpit.

Attributes
ACN	412221
Time
Date	199808
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	descent other other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	412221
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Approximately 10 mi from pit, TCASII screen went blank, then reverted to initial power on screen. 10-15 seconds later, the crew smelled an electrical burning smell, but no smoke was visible. TCASII was deactivated and oxygen masks and goggles were donned. Crew requested an expedited landing in VMC from ATC. ATC advised crew they would have crash fire rescue equipment standing by. A normal approach and landing were made, proceeded to ramp area to confirm problem resolved, then parked at gate. Passenger were informed of what happened and deplaned normally with gate agents standing by to assist further if necessary. Company dispatch and maintenance were informed of problem. Crew completed company report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTT ACFT. TCASII FAILED CAUSING BURNING ODOR IN THE COCKPIT.

Narrative: APPROX 10 MI FROM PIT, TCASII SCREEN WENT BLANK, THEN REVERTED TO INITIAL PWR ON SCREEN. 10-15 SECONDS LATER, THE CREW SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL, BUT NO SMOKE WAS VISIBLE. TCASII WAS DEACTIVATED AND OXYGEN MASKS AND GOGGLES WERE DONNED. CREW REQUESTED AN EXPEDITED LNDG IN VMC FROM ATC. ATC ADVISED CREW THEY WOULD HAVE CFR STANDING BY. A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WERE MADE, PROCEEDED TO RAMP AREA TO CONFIRM PROB RESOLVED, THEN PARKED AT GATE. PAX WERE INFORMED OF WHAT HAPPENED AND DEPLANED NORMALLY WITH GATE AGENTS STANDING BY TO ASSIST FURTHER IF NECESSARY. COMPANY DISPATCH AND MAINT WERE INFORMED OF PROB. CREW COMPLETED COMPANY RPT.

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.