Air Carrier flight crew reported a fume event during preflight preparations at departure gate. A strong acrid odor and smoke was reported prompting the Captain to secure the aircraft and deplane the entire crew. Flight crew conferred with maintenance and were subsequently removed from the flight.
Synopsis
Air Carrier flight crew reported a fume event during preflight preparations at departure gate. A strong acrid odor and smoke was reported prompting the Captain to secure the aircraft and deplane the entire crew. Flight crew conferred with maintenance and were subsequently removed from the flight.
Narrative
The First Officer (FO) and I met in the cockpit and went through the pre-flight set up. We completed our flows as per [the airline]. The First Officer went outside to do the pre-flight inspection and I finished the cockpit set up for take off. I had brought a sandwich on board and went to take a bite when I heard a loud 'Pop'; followed by a 'Wooosh' sound. Seconds later there was a very acrid smell and smoke. The [Lead Flight Attendant] yelled in shortly later about the smell and smoke. I then told her we had a problem and for her and the other FAs (Flight Attendant) to grab their stuff and get out. Once learning we had customers on the jet bridge I asked the [Lead Flight Attendant] to please get the customers back up to the terminal. I was able to call ZZZ Maintenance and say we have smoke in the cockpit and I am shutting down all power to the airplane. I turned off the EXT power; BATT switches and activated the fire switch to the APU for an immediate shut down. I met with the Flight Attendants (FA) again once their Supervisors showed up to lend support. Two of them later became ill feeling from the smoke. After meeting with probably 12 Tech Operations people; we went up to the gate and I gave a PA announcement to the passengers.
Second reporter narrative
After arriving at the aircraft in ZZZ; I finished my flow and went out to do the walk around. As I returned back on top of the Jet Bridge door; I saw our Lead FA (Flight Attendant) escorting few passengers back to the gate and saw Captain rushed out of the cockpit. I also quickly smelled heavy electrical burning smell and saw some light smoke in forward cabin. Captain said he has taken the appropriate steps in cockpit and our Maintenance team should be arriving soon so we stayed half way towards the bottom of the jetway. Within a minute Maintenance team of four people arrived at the aircraft and also smelled the same. Captain told me and them that he heard a hissing sound in the cockpit followed by a heavy smoke. That smell was very strong and got a little headache from it so I decided to stay away from the cockpit while Maintenance team was working to find the origination of the smoke. Within 30 minutes Captain informed me that we have been pulled from the trip and we went to the hotel.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.