Ezy Pan at NCL
 

Has anyone any info about what caused an Easyjet B737 to declare a PAN with smoke in cabin (flt crew & pax on masks ??). Crew later cancelled PAN and returned to NCL after burning off fuel for uneventfull landing in heavy snow at 20.00 hrs 28/12/05.

Story here:

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4566226.stm>


OC

Thanks for prompt reply Old Coder, I guess the part about the mask's was incorrect.

Does the 737 not have a fuel dump facility then, & if not, what is MTOM and MLM?

DW

Quote:
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> Does the 737 not have a fuel dump facility then, & if not, what is MTOM and MLM?<

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1. No

2. Depends on model, - IIRC, up to about 4 metric tonnes difference between MTOM and MLM.

Poss. cause ? Sounds like XS de-icing fluid into Aircon. ?

Can't the 737 land overweight in case of a return?

Yep, so can a 747-400. Right up to MTOW, subject to runway length and in an emergency.

If it's not so serious, burn it off or dump.

Some aircraft will still be overweight after dumping, like the 767-300 which can only dump from the centre fuel tank. The wing tanks will still be full and with a decent payload it will still be above MLW after dumping.

Other types with no fuel dump facility that spring to mind are the A320 family, 757, 767-200 (all?), 767-300 (some), A330 (some).

From what i heard it was just smoke in the cockpit which cleared up pretty quickly after declaring pan but with flight deck still on masks.

A/c circled for a while to burn a bit of fuel then returned to Newcastle with an uneventful landing.

I was said skipper on said jet.

very heavy snow contamination on whole a/c needing extensive de-icing. Full power bleeds off takeoff using apu air for initial climb. Due to high angle of climb and very large amount of residual fluid on fuselage, the contaminent entered the APU intake in unusually large amounts. This manifested itself as thick acrid black smoke in the cockpit at about 500` agl requiring cockpit masks to be donned. Similar smoke in the cabin confirmed that this must be an ir conditioning issue so re-configuiring the bleed airs instantly solved the problem. Bit dodgy for a bit though when it all happens at max t\o wt at 500`!

Landing afterwards became interesting due to lack of available places to go.

Lots of pax complained of throat/eye problems in the air but were ok when offered medical attention.

Busy day at the office that. Never really given too much thought to having to mask up during an initial climbout phase - its so nearly always practiced in the cruise or other quiet time. Well done.

WWW

Excellent result, well done to all (Air & Grd)

BTB's BACK

Shame you described it in such detail . . . you'll be giving TRE's ideas for the next OPC!

Seriously though, well done mate.

eJ Capt

Yes well done BTB's back - and also his front......:E Never really considered the possibility of de-icing fluid rolling back into the APU intake....... Seems perhaps Mr Boeing didn't either? Bit of a worry alright! I shall consider an unpressurised takeoff in future should I be in similar circumstances and can declare that's only with the 20-20 hindsight you guys have gifted me! Again well done and thanx! :ok:

WCF: its quite common on the 73's with high body angles to have de icing fluid ingested by the APU.
I tend to brief it to the cabin crew before flight.
However the quantity that got ingested in the NCL event is new to me! Must have had a thorough de-ice ;)

I know nothing about 737s but after two very similar events after deicing and occuring immediately after take-off we nowadays absolutely never use APU air after deicing.

The answer is to take off unpressurised and then select engine air and packs on shortly after take off.

....... now where did I hear that before? With hindsight! :zzz:

Is food for thought though. Perhaps an NTC and note in next years Winter Brief? I certainly wouldn't have given an APU air bleeds off TO a second thought after de-iceing, but I will now!

Well handled, and a good opertunity for some lernin'

Well Dones Guys. That is a cracker for a command selection loft.I miss my 737 so so much. Old FiFi has arrived here at Bristol and it is an easier day out for sure but Mr Boeing still makes great airplanes. Its a little different on the bus we take off with the packs and apu off as standard! Then through acceleration we reconfigure the packs, so no messy fluid mishaps me thinks. Very well handled.
Happy New Year Wing Commander Fowler me old friend
Regards
Ted

Hi Ted me ole mucker! Knew it was you when I read the "miss me 737" don't know why..... How's Ro' an the rugrat? :)

B737 Unpressurised take-off
 

Well done, you did a fantastic job.

Is unpressurised take-off a well known procedure on the 737?
Its the first time that I hear of it, but it makes real sense.

I would appreciate any feedback.