What happened
On July 8, 2021, an Aerolíneas Argentinas Embraer ERJ190-100 IGW, registration LV-CMB, departed from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires, bound for San Rafael, Mendoza. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing through approximately 500 feet, the flight crew noticed eye and throat irritation. Cabin crew subsequently reported the presence of white smoke within the passenger cabin.
In response to the smoke, the pilots declared an emergency, prompting the activation of airport rescue and firefighting services. The crew performed a return to Aeropyle Jorge Newbery, landing safely at 16:49 UTC. During the descent and approach, the smoke dissipated, and the crew did not need to utilize oxygen masks.
The investigation
The investigation focused on identifying the source of the smoke, as no aircraft system failures or warnings were displayed on the Flight Management Computer (FMC) during the flight. Post-flight inspections of the aircraft revealed no visible damage, no leaks of hydraulic fluid or oil, and no mechanical malfunctions.
Investigators examined the aircraft's air conditioning system, which utilizes bleed air from the engines to pressurize and ventilate the cabin. Data from the Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders (CVFDR) confirmed that both air conditioning packs were operating normally during the event.
Maintenance records showed that the right-hand engine had been replaced just one day prior to the incident. The engine being removed (serial number 994612) had undergone a cleaning and drying process using a chemical solution known as ZOK 27 on July 1. The flight in question was the first operation of the aircraft following this engine replacement and the associated maintenance tasks.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced white smoke in the cabin during the initial climb phase.
- Both air conditioning packs were fully operational at the time of the incident.
- Residual traces of the chemical cleaning solution used on the previously installed engine likely contaminated the bleed air system.
- The smoke was likely caused by the evaporation of chemical residues within the air conditioning system as the engine bleed air passed through the packs.
- No mechanical or systemic failures were identified in the aircraft's components or engines following the event.