SAAB340 flight instrumentation failed with corresponding smell of smoke in the cockpit.

Attributes
ACN	767984
Time
Date	200801
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340B
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	747984
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While in cruise flight at 6000 ft we experienced a number of anomalies with our aircraft. The first problem was a master caution for our rudder limiter. While slowing to 180 KTS and performing checklist items we lost the captain's primary flight instruments. There was also a brief flicker of the EFIS tubes and a burning smell in the cockpit. At this point we received a report from the flight attendant of a burning smell in the front section of the aircraft. I then asked the flight attendant to call forward one of our deadheading capts to see if he or anyone else smelled fumes or saw smoke. He also confirmed the burning smell in the front of the aircraft. At this point we performed the necessary checklist items per the epc; aom and flight manual. We informed ATC of our situation; declared an emergency; and immediately landed ZZZ without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SAAB340 FLIGHT INSTRUMENTATION FAILED WITH CORRESPONDING SMELL OF SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 6000 FT WE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF ANOMALIES WITH OUR ACFT. THE FIRST PROB WAS A MASTER CAUTION FOR OUR RUDDER LIMITER. WHILE SLOWING TO 180 KTS AND PERFORMING CHKLIST ITEMS WE LOST THE CAPT'S PRIMARY FLT INSTS. THERE WAS ALSO A BRIEF FLICKER OF THE EFIS TUBES AND A BURNING SMELL IN THE COCKPIT. AT THIS POINT WE RECEIVED A RPT FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT OF A BURNING SMELL IN THE FRONT SECTION OF THE ACFT. I THEN ASKED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO CALL FORWARD ONE OF OUR DEADHEADING CAPTS TO SEE IF HE OR ANYONE ELSE SMELLED FUMES OR SAW SMOKE. HE ALSO CONFIRMED THE BURNING SMELL IN THE FRONT OF THE ACFT. AT THIS POINT WE PERFORMED THE NECESSARY CHKLIST ITEMS PER THE EPC; AOM AND FLT MANUAL. WE INFORMED ATC OF OUR SITUATION; DECLARED AN EMER; AND IMMEDIATELY LANDED ZZZ WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.