DHC8 flight crew has smoke in the cabin after departure.

Attributes
ACN	728216
Time
Date	200702
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8-100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 225
ASRS Report	728216
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On the climb out from jfk; we noticed a slight haze in the cockpit that went away after a few seconds. The flight attendant called shortly after and stated that there was smoke in the cabin. She stated that there was only a small amount and the passenger didn't seem to even notice. This aircraft had recently had an engine swap and maintenance told us that we might smell smoke but would not see any. The aircraft was not required to have a test flight first; which in my opinion is ridiculous. We returned to jfk uneventfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DHC8 FLT CREW HAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN AFTER DEP.

Narrative: ON THE CLB OUT FROM JFK; WE NOTICED A SLIGHT HAZE IN THE COCKPIT THAT WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALLED SHORTLY AFTER AND STATED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT AND THE PAX DIDN'T SEEM TO EVEN NOTICE. THIS ACFT HAD RECENTLY HAD AN ENGINE SWAP AND MAINT TOLD US THAT WE MIGHT SMELL SMOKE BUT WOULD NOT SEE ANY. THE ACFT WAS NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A TEST FLT FIRST; WHICH IN MY OPINION IS RIDICULOUS. WE RETURNED TO JFK UNEVENTFULLY.

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.