B737-300 experiences cabin smoke odor on taxi out. Return to gate for maintenance.

Attributes
ACN	708578
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : san.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	708578
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During taxi out; flight attendant called flight deck to inform of smoke smell in the aft cabin/galley area. I stopped taxi and asked if we needed to evacuate/evacuation. The answer was 'no.' I informed ground; pulled off the taxiway called operations for a return to the gate. Taxied to the gate. Called dispatch; called maintenance. Had a mechanic inspect airplane and confirmed with maintenance item was cleared; then departed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 EXPERIENCES CABIN SMOKE ODOR ON TAXI OUT. RETURN TO GATE FOR MAINT.

Narrative: DURING TAXI OUT; FLT ATTENDANT CALLED FLT DECK TO INFORM OF SMOKE SMELL IN THE AFT CABIN/GALLEY AREA. I STOPPED TAXI AND ASKED IF WE NEEDED TO EVAC. THE ANSWER WAS 'NO.' I INFORMED GND; PULLED OFF THE TXWY CALLED OPS FOR A RETURN TO THE GATE. TAXIED TO THE GATE. CALLED DISPATCH; CALLED MAINT. HAD A MECH INSPECT AIRPLANE AND CONFIRMED WITH MAINT ITEM WAS CLRED; THEN DEPARTED.

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.