B757 flight crew at FL360 reports smelling electrical fumes in the forward cabin and diverts to the ...

Attributes
ACN	738967
Time
Date	200705
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	738967
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty oversight : flight attendant in charge
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Purser called during cruise to report strong burning smell in galley area. I needed a restroom break; so I went back to the galley; but could not smell anything burning. There was a faint odor in the forward lavatory; but I couldn't determine the origin and there were no detectable hot spots. Exiting the lavatory area; another flight attendant said she detected the odor near the left forward door; but we still couldn't pinpoint the location. I finally noticed the smell again when I opened the lavatory door; but it was still very faint. Heading back up to the cockpit; I told the first officer that I was considering going to ZZZ; but wanted him to check and see if he could locate the source. He briefly went back and returned to report that the smell was now pretty strong; so we declared an emergency and diverted to ZZZ. Mechanics later determined that a switch mounted on the forward lavatory door frame; which turns on an overhead light in the lavatory when the door is locked; had failed and the burning smell was the switch wiring and bulkhead insulation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLT CREW AT FL360 REPORTS SMELLING ELECTRICAL FUMES IN THE FORWARD CABIN AND DIVERTS TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: PURSER CALLED DURING CRUISE TO RPT STRONG BURNING SMELL IN GALLEY AREA. I NEEDED A RESTROOM BREAK; SO I WENT BACK TO THE GALLEY; BUT COULD NOT SMELL ANYTHING BURNING. THERE WAS A FAINT ODOR IN THE FORWARD LAVATORY; BUT I COULDN'T DETERMINE THE ORIGIN AND THERE WERE NO DETECTABLE HOT SPOTS. EXITING THE LAVATORY AREA; ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT SAID SHE DETECTED THE ODOR NEAR THE L FORWARD DOOR; BUT WE STILL COULDN'T PINPOINT THE LOCATION. I FINALLY NOTICED THE SMELL AGAIN WHEN I OPENED THE LAVATORY DOOR; BUT IT WAS STILL VERY FAINT. HEADING BACK UP TO THE COCKPIT; I TOLD THE FO THAT I WAS CONSIDERING GOING TO ZZZ; BUT WANTED HIM TO CHK AND SEE IF HE COULD LOCATE THE SOURCE. HE BRIEFLY WENT BACK AND RETURNED TO RPT THAT THE SMELL WAS NOW PRETTY STRONG; SO WE DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO ZZZ. MECHS LATER DETERMINED THAT A SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD LAVATORY DOOR FRAME; WHICH TURNS ON AN OVERHEAD LIGHT IN THE LAVATORY WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED; HAD FAILED AND THE BURNING SMELL WAS THE SWITCH WIRING AND BULKHEAD INSULATION.

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.

B757 flight crew at FL360 reports smelling electrical fumes in the forward cabin and diverts to the nearest suitable airport.