MD88 flight crew returns to land at atl after flight attendant detects fumes in cabin.

Attributes
ACN	438288
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	438288
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event other
Independent Detector	other other : cab3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After takeoff from atl, the flight attendant in the mid cabin called the cockpit, and advised us of a burning electrical smell in the cabin (no smoke, however). After a short discussion with her, I elected to return to atl. I called departure control, declared an emergency, and requested a turn to downwind and a descent. We performed the after takeoff and approach checklists and the first officer executed a short visual approach into atl. After landing, no evidence of smoke or fumes was noted by us or the flight attendants, and the crash crew noted no anomalies, so we taxied to the gate. What we failed to do during this emergency is don our oxygen masks. We reasoned that we had no smoke or fumes in the cockpit, and we were only a few mi from the airport. While we did have our masks on our laps, this was a procedural deviation, and possibly an unsafe action. While the oxygen mask is uncomfortable and makes communication difficult, it should be worn when a procedure calls for it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLC RETURNS TO LAND AT ATL AFTER FLT ATTENDANT DETECTS FUMES IN CABIN.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM ATL, THE FLT ATTENDANT IN THE MID CABIN CALLED THE COCKPIT, AND ADVISED US OF A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL IN THE CABIN (NO SMOKE, HOWEVER). AFTER A SHORT DISCUSSION WITH HER, I ELECTED TO RETURN TO ATL. I CALLED DEP CTL, DECLARED AN EMER, AND REQUESTED A TURN TO DOWNWIND AND A DSCNT. WE PERFORMED THE AFTER TKOF AND APCH CHKLISTS AND THE FO EXECUTED A SHORT VISUAL APCH INTO ATL. AFTER LNDG, NO EVIDENCE OF SMOKE OR FUMES WAS NOTED BY US OR THE FLT ATTENDANTS, AND THE CRASH CREW NOTED NO ANOMALIES, SO WE TAXIED TO THE GATE. WHAT WE FAILED TO DO DURING THIS EMER IS DON OUR OXYGEN MASKS. WE REASONED THAT WE HAD NO SMOKE OR FUMES IN THE COCKPIT, AND WE WERE ONLY A FEW MI FROM THE ARPT. WHILE WE DID HAVE OUR MASKS ON OUR LAPS, THIS WAS A PROCEDURAL DEV, AND POSSIBLY AN UNSAFE ACTION. WHILE THE OXYGEN MASK IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND MAKES COM DIFFICULT, IT SHOULD BE WORN WHEN A PROC CALLS FOR IT.

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.