History of the Flight
On 19 February 2007, at 1335 UTC, a BAe 146-300 registered D-AEWB departed from Birmingham on a commercial passenger flight. Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, during the climb, the flight crew noticed an unusual 'burnt' or 'exhaust' smell in the cockpit. There was no visible smoke. Soon after, both pilots began experiencing tunnel vision, loss of balance, and loss of feeling in their hands and lower arms. They immediately donned their oxygen masks and breathed 100% oxygen, which noticeably improved their condition. Two of the three cabin crew members also reported similar symptoms.
The crew declared an emergency and returned to Birmingham. During the descent, they actioned the 'SMOKE/FUMES ON FLIGHT DECK/CABIN' abnormal checklist. The landing was uneventful, and the aircraft stopped on Taxiway 'C' to allow the Airport Fire Service to investigate. Passengers disembarked normally and were taken to the terminal by bus.
Weather at Birmingham at the time was dry, with wind 170°/8 kt and visibility 9 km.
Personnel Information
Both flight crew members held valid Airline Transport Pilot's Licences and current Class 1 medical certificates with no restrictions. The commander was 42 years old with 7,666 total flying hours, including 1,519 on type. They had a rest period of over 13 hours prior to the flight. After the flight, all five crew members attended a local hospital for health checks; there was no evidence of long-term ill effects from inhalation of fumes.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a British Aerospace BAe 146-300 (serial number 3183, manufactured in 1990), had completed 23,311 flying hours and 25,015 cycles. Following the incident, inspections per the manufacturer's Service Bulletins 21-150 and 21-156 were performed. Evidence of oil leakage was found on the bleed band of the No 1 engine, indicating that engine oil had been ingested into the bleed air system. The engine (serial number LF05407AC) was replaced; it had 6,973 hours/8,155 cycles since new and 964 hours/1,131 cycles since its last service. Subsequent checks confirmed the cabin/cockpit air supply was free from contamination, and the aircraft was returned to service.
Additional Information
The problem of fumes in the cockpit or cabin on the BAe 146 and other aircraft has been subject to industry discussion. AAIB Formal Report 1/2004 presented findings on contamination of cockpit/cabin air supply by engine oil fumes and included studies on physiological effects. In December 2000, the UK CAA issued Flight Operations Department Communication (FODCOM) number 17/2000, providing safety advice on the use of oxygen masks in smoke or fume events, with updates in FODCOMs 14/2001 and 21/2002. The German BFU reported two similar incidents on BAe 146 aircraft in January 2007 (reports 5X001-0/07 and 5X003-0/07). The report noted that prompt action by the crew in donning oxygen masks at the first signs of adverse symptoms can have significant safety benefits.