<< >> NASA ASRS Report 560465, September 2002

B777-200 flight attendant complains about an unpleasant odor in the cabin 8 hours 30 mins after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	560465
Time
Date	200209
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk.airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Weather Elements	other
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 33.5 flight attendant time total : 33.5
ASRS Report	560465
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event other other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Approximately 45 mins prior to landing, a hideous smell like dirty old socks started. Eventually, the whole aircraft smelled like this. It was very similar to what happened on our DC10's in early and mid 80's. On basis of that, it led me to believe the smell came from air conditioning packs that needed cleaning. Passenger complained, captain made PA explaining about air conditioning packs. However, the smell was very pervasive. For the next 3 days, I had unexplained headaches throughout each day. By day #4, headaches were gone. Lazy maintenance and deferrals (no surprise there) were undoubtedly the cause. Smell gone after landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777-200 FLT ATTENDANT COMPLAINS ABOUT AN UNPLEASANT ODOR IN THE CABIN 8 HRS 30 MINS AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: APPROX 45 MINS PRIOR TO LNDG, A HIDEOUS SMELL LIKE DIRTY OLD SOCKS STARTED. EVENTUALLY, THE WHOLE ACFT SMELLED LIKE THIS. IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED ON OUR DC10'S IN EARLY AND MID 80'S. ON BASIS OF THAT, IT LED ME TO BELIEVE THE SMELL CAME FROM AIR CONDITIONING PACKS THAT NEEDED CLEANING. PAX COMPLAINED, CAPT MADE PA EXPLAINING ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING PACKS. HOWEVER, THE SMELL WAS VERY PERVASIVE. FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS, I HAD UNEXPLAINED HEADACHES THROUGHOUT EACH DAY. BY DAY #4, HEADACHES WERE GONE. LAZY MAINT AND DEFERRALS (NO SURPRISE THERE) WERE UNDOUBTEDLY THE CAUSE. SMELL GONE AFTER LNDG.

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.