EMB140 crew reports lav smoke warning just after take off with emergency return to field.

Attributes
ACN	736327
Time
Date	200704
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Windshear Turbulence
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 140 ER&LR
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
ASRS Report	736327
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : smoke detector other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We had a lavatory smoke indication and declared an emergency. The initial indication was from the flight attendant just after we raised the gear. The attendant called us and told us we had smoke in the cabin. At about 5000 ft we got a lavatory smoke indication on the EICAS and ran the lavatory smoke checklist. This involves having the flight attendant investigate the smoke; and in doing so; he reported the smoke was increasing in density in the cabin. We declared an emergency and returned to the field. After landing; we asked if the smoke was getting worse and he said no; so we did a normal deplaning at the gate. A logbook entry was made for the lavatory smoke and overweight landing due to the immediate return to the field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB140 CREW REPORTS LAV SMOKE WARNING JUST AFTER TAKE OFF WITH EMERGENCY RETURN TO FIELD.

Narrative: WE HAD A LAVATORY SMOKE INDICATION AND DECLARED AN EMER. THE INITIAL INDICATION WAS FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT JUST AFTER WE RAISED THE GEAR. THE ATTENDANT CALLED US AND TOLD US WE HAD SMOKE IN THE CABIN. AT ABOUT 5000 FT WE GOT A LAVATORY SMOKE INDICATION ON THE EICAS AND RAN THE LAVATORY SMOKE CHKLIST. THIS INVOLVES HAVING THE FLT ATTENDANT INVESTIGATE THE SMOKE; AND IN DOING SO; HE RPTED THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING IN DENSITY IN THE CABIN. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO THE FIELD. AFTER LNDG; WE ASKED IF THE SMOKE WAS GETTING WORSE AND HE SAID NO; SO WE DID A NORMAL DEPLANING AT THE GATE. A LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS MADE FOR THE LAVATORY SMOKE AND OVERWT LNDG DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE RETURN TO THE FIELD.

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.