B727-200 crew reported the cabin filled with smoke after pushing back from the gate at msp.

Attributes
ACN	515845
Time
Date	200106
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	515845
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : 5
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After pushback, while parked, we were told to start the engines. We could not get any pressure on the gauge. The pushback mechanic came up the back stairs to help. The mechanic wanted us to remove and restore electrical power. With both air conditioning pack switches off, the APU was turned off. The cabin started to fill with smoke from the air conditioning system. I made a PA to let the passenger and flight attendants know the source of the smoke and to remain calm. I called out the crash fire rescue equipment equipment to help in case the problem got worse. We got the APU running and the smoke went away with the right pack trip light on. We had the tug pull us back in to the gate. The crash fire rescue equipment personnel checked the aircraft over once we were parked at the gate. Crash fire rescue equipment also walked through the cabin to check if anyone needed any medical attention from the smoke. Crash fire rescue equipment said everyone was fine and they asked if they could leave. We had the passenger deplane the aircraft and wait in the boarding area. I wrote up the problems in the aircraft logbook.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 CREW REPORTED THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE AFTER PUSHING BACK FROM THE GATE AT MSP.

Narrative: AFTER PUSHBACK, WHILE PARKED, WE WERE TOLD TO START THE ENGS. WE COULD NOT GET ANY PRESSURE ON THE GAUGE. THE PUSHBACK MECH CAME UP THE BACK STAIRS TO HELP. THE MECH WANTED US TO REMOVE AND RESTORE ELECTRICAL PWR. WITH BOTH AIR CONDITIONING PACK SWITCHES OFF, THE APU WAS TURNED OFF. THE CABIN STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS. I MADE A PA TO LET THE PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE AND TO REMAIN CALM. I CALLED OUT THE CFR EQUIP TO HELP IN CASE THE PROB GOT WORSE. WE GOT THE APU RUNNING AND THE SMOKE WENT AWAY WITH THE R PACK TRIP LIGHT ON. WE HAD THE TUG PULL US BACK IN TO THE GATE. THE CFR PERSONNEL CHKED THE ACFT OVER ONCE WE WERE PARKED AT THE GATE. CFR ALSO WALKED THROUGH THE CABIN TO CHK IF ANYONE NEEDED ANY MEDICAL ATTN FROM THE SMOKE. CFR SAID EVERYONE WAS FINE AND THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD LEAVE. WE HAD THE PAX DEPLANE THE ACFT AND WAIT IN THE BOARDING AREA. I WROTE UP THE PROBS IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK.

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.