Commuter crew returned to the departure station because the avionics vent light illuminated.

Attributes
ACN	561300
Time
Date	200209
Day	Wed
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	561300
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : avionics vent light other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed as precaution none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Return to dfw for avionics vent light. About 15 mins into the flight to ZZZ, the avionics vent light illuminated 5-6 times. We followed the aircraft operating manual procedures and then called dispatch who, in turn, patched us to maintenance operations controller. We explained what we did, and knowing that there is no contract maintenance in ZZZ and that the avionics fan is not flight crew placardable, we asked if they would like us to return to dfw for repair. Since the plane would have been grounded in ZZZ, maintenance, dispatch and I all agreed that it would be best to return. So we returned to dfw and maintenance elected to MEL the avionics vent fan (chocker) instead of repairing it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER CREW RETURNED TO THE DEP STATION BECAUSE THE AVIONICS VENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

Narrative: RETURN TO DFW FOR AVIONICS VENT LIGHT. ABOUT 15 MINS INTO THE FLT TO ZZZ, THE AVIONICS VENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED 5-6 TIMES. WE FOLLOWED THE ACFT OPERATING MANUAL PROCS AND THEN CALLED DISPATCH WHO, IN TURN, PATCHED US TO MAINT OPS CTLR. WE EXPLAINED WHAT WE DID, AND KNOWING THAT THERE IS NO CONTRACT MAINT IN ZZZ AND THAT THE AVIONICS FAN IS NOT FLC PLACARDABLE, WE ASKED IF THEY WOULD LIKE US TO RETURN TO DFW FOR REPAIR. SINCE THE PLANE WOULD HAVE BEEN GNDED IN ZZZ, MAINT, DISPATCH AND I ALL AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO RETURN. SO WE RETURNED TO DFW AND MAINT ELECTED TO MEL THE AVIONICS VENT FAN (CHOCKER) INSTEAD OF REPAIRING 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.