A320 flight crew is informed of electrical odor in the cabin and elects to declare an emergency to e...

Attributes
ACN	864520
Time
Date	200912
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cabin Entertainment
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 750
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 220 Flight Crew Total 12000 Flight Crew Type 4800
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Narrative:

Aircraft was de-iced at the gate prior to crew arrival. All ground ops normal and flight was uneventful until approximately XA55 local. While enroute for a short hold; the flight attendant notified the cockpit that a passenger smelled something electrical. She conferred with another flight attendant and they agreed. They then noted that the left side of the aircraft audio system went inoperative. At this time the cockpit crew declared an emergency and was given expedited handling to ZZZ. After coordinating with dispatch; we flew an uneventful landing to runway xxr. We taxied clear of the runway and were quickly examined by the fire department. No smoke or other signs of fire (including ir scan) were noted and we taxied to the gate and deplaned normally. Upon inspection at the gate it was noted that a circuit breaker associated with the left side of the aircraft was popped on the passenger entertainment unit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew is informed of electrical odor in the cabin and elects to declare an emergency to expedite arrival after being issued holding instructions. Flight Attendants report that the passenger entertainment system is the likely culprit.

Narrative: Aircraft was de-iced at the gate prior to crew arrival. All ground ops normal and flight was uneventful until approximately XA55 local. While enroute for a short hold; the Flight Attendant notified the cockpit that a passenger smelled something electrical. She conferred with another Flight Attendant and they agreed. They then noted that the left side of the aircraft audio system went inoperative. At this time the cockpit crew declared an emergency and was given expedited handling to ZZZ. After coordinating with dispatch; we flew an uneventful landing to Runway XXR. We taxied clear of the runway and were quickly examined by the fire department. No smoke or other signs of fire (including IR scan) were noted and we taxied to the gate and deplaned normally. Upon inspection at the gate it was noted that a circuit breaker associated with the left side of the aircraft was popped on the passenger entertainment unit.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A320 flight crew is informed of electrical odor in the cabin and elects to declare an emergency to expedite arrival after being issued holding instructions. Flight attendants report that the passenger entertainment system is the likely culprit.