C172 pilot has smoke and or fumes after takeoff; returns for landing.

Attributes
ACN	702152
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ptd.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 320 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	702152
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to alternate flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I filed for and received an IFR clearance to depart. On climb out; but before making contact with ATC; a distinctive smell of smoke filled the cockpit and my transponder stopped functioning. I executed a successful precautionary landing. During the excitement; I neglected to contact ATC by my designated contact time. This resulted in a NORDO situation and the blocking of airspace. The airport manager was called and ATC was advised of my safe return after a 10 min (or so) lapse.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT HAS SMOKE AND OR FUMES AFTER TKOF; RETURNS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: I FILED FOR AND RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC TO DEPART. ON CLBOUT; BUT BEFORE MAKING CONTACT WITH ATC; A DISTINCTIVE SMELL OF SMOKE FILLED THE COCKPIT AND MY XPONDER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. DURING THE EXCITEMENT; I NEGLECTED TO CONTACT ATC BY MY DESIGNATED CONTACT TIME. THIS RESULTED IN A NORDO SITUATION AND THE BLOCKING OF AIRSPACE. THE ARPT MGR WAS CALLED AND ATC WAS ADVISED OF MY SAFE RETURN AFTER A 10 MIN (OR SO) LAPSE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.