Air carrier flight with several error messages and electrical gremlins diverts for an alternate landing. Passenger apparently smoking marijuana adds smoke smell confusion and unnecessary concern to the mix, thus causing flight crew to declare an emergency.

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Attributes
ACN	464286
Time
Date	200002
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zob.artcc
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	464286
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event : passenger misconduct non adherence : far non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3 (cab attendant)
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While climbing through FL290 to FL310, we received an ECAM message 'hydraulic B low pressure,' 'blower fault,' and loss of ACARS data, and other minor messages. Accomplished abnormal procedures and checklists. Company dispatch and I agreed to divert to dtw (approximately 60 NM southeast of djb). We requested emergency equipment to standby as precaution. While en route to dtw, the lead flight attendant reported 'burning smell' from cabin. I request the flight attendant attempt to get more information -- such as any visible smoke, where the smell was strongest, etc, and declared emergency with ATC requesting a lower altitude and started considering a closer airport. Shortly thereafter, the flight attendant returned to the cockpit and reported the 'smell' was gone, and no smoke or haze was visible. We continued to dtw with priority. Upon deplaning passenger, it was revealed that a passenger had a lighted 'rope' causing the burning smell.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT WITH SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES AND ELECTRICAL GREMLINS DIVERTS FOR AN ALTERNATE LNDG. PAX APPARENTLY SMOKING MARIJUANA ADDS SMOKE SMELL CONFUSION AND UNNECESSARY CONCERN TO THE MIX, THUS CAUSING FLC TO DECLARE AN EMER.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL290 TO FL310, WE RECEIVED AN ECAM MESSAGE 'HYD B LOW PRESSURE,' 'BLOWER FAULT,' AND LOSS OF ACARS DATA, AND OTHER MINOR MESSAGES. ACCOMPLISHED ABNORMAL PROCS AND CHKLISTS. COMPANY DISPATCH AND I AGREED TO DIVERT TO DTW (APPROX 60 NM SE OF DJB). WE REQUESTED EMER EQUIP TO STANDBY AS PRECAUTION. WHILE ENRTE TO DTW, THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT RPTED 'BURNING SMELL' FROM CABIN. I REQUEST THE FLT ATTENDANT ATTEMPT TO GET MORE INFO -- SUCH AS ANY VISIBLE SMOKE, WHERE THE SMELL WAS STRONGEST, ETC, AND DECLARED EMER WITH ATC REQUESTING A LOWER ALT AND STARTED CONSIDERING A CLOSER ARPT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FLT ATTENDANT RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT AND RPTED THE 'SMELL' WAS GONE, AND NO SMOKE OR HAZE WAS VISIBLE. WE CONTINUED TO DTW WITH PRIORITY. UPON DEPLANING PAX, IT WAS REVEALED THAT A PAX HAD A LIGHTED 'ROPE' CAUSING THE BURNING SMELL.

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.