An MD80 returns to the ramp with smoke and fumes in the cabin at pit, PA.

Attributes
ACN	510468
Time
Date	200105
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	510468
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : cab 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Upon taxiing for takeoff, our flight attendants reported blue smoke and an acrid smell developing in the middle of the cabin. We requested to return to the ramp and the services of crash fire rescue equipment. I turned the APU and galley power off, and the smoke subsided. The decision was then made to return to the gate. Passenger were deplaned normally and the fire department boarded to assist in positively identing the source of the smoke. It turned out that a faulty seal in the APU compressor was discharging oil into the right air conditioning pack. (The APU was being used to supplement ground cooling of the cabin.) I can't overstate the professionalism of my crew. The flight attendant made timely announcements to keep the passenger calm while we assessed the situation up front. A deadheading captain also came up to the flight deck. His description of what he saw in the cabin greatly helped to shape my decision on whether or not to evacuate/evacuation the aircraft. Again, CRM training pays off!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 RETURNS TO THE RAMP WITH SMOKE AND FUMES IN THE CABIN AT PIT, PA.

Narrative: UPON TAXIING FOR TKOF, OUR FLT ATTENDANTS RPTED BLUE SMOKE AND AN ACRID SMELL DEVELOPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CABIN. WE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE RAMP AND THE SVCS OF CFR. I TURNED THE APU AND GALLEY PWR OFF, AND THE SMOKE SUBSIDED. THE DECISION WAS THEN MADE TO RETURN TO THE GATE. PAX WERE DEPLANED NORMALLY AND THE FIRE DEPT BOARDED TO ASSIST IN POSITIVELY IDENTING THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. IT TURNED OUT THAT A FAULTY SEAL IN THE APU COMPRESSOR WAS DISCHARGING OIL INTO THE R AIR CONDITIONING PACK. (THE APU WAS BEING USED TO SUPPLEMENT GND COOLING OF THE CABIN.) I CAN'T OVERSTATE THE PROFESSIONALISM OF MY CREW. THE FLT ATTENDANT MADE TIMELY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO KEEP THE PAX CALM WHILE WE ASSESSED THE SIT UP FRONT. A DEADHEADING CAPT ALSO CAME UP TO THE FLT DECK. HIS DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HE SAW IN THE CABIN GREATLY HELPED TO SHAPE MY DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO EVAC THE ACFT. AGAIN, CRM TRAINING PAYS OFF!

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.