A300 flight crew reported being notified by the cabin jumpseaters of a fume/smoke event during departure taxi. The flight crew requested airport assistance; completed the QRH procedures and took action with no injuries or damage.
Synopsis
A300 flight crew reported being notified by the cabin jumpseaters of a fume/smoke event during departure taxi. The flight crew requested airport assistance; completed the QRH procedures and took action with no injuries or damage.
Narrative
APU inoperative. Conducted huffer start on #2 in the chocks. Normal pushback; normal crossbleed start on #1. Taxiing for takeoff at ZZZ on Taxiway 1 approaching [Runway] XXR; received call from 3 jumpseaters indicating smoke in the courier area. No indications or warnings of smoke in the cockpit at this time. Stopped the aircraft on Taxiway 1; and notified Tower. FO (First Officer) opened cockpit door and confirmed presence of smoke; and returned to the cockpit. Smell of smoke now obvious in the cockpit. We opened both cockpit windows to ventilate. Informed Tower that we had smoke in the aircraft and request that they 'roll the trucks'. Conducted evacuation; shutdown the aircraft and egressed via L1 slide on Taxiway 1. Mustered five souls away from the aircraft. No injuries. Upon observation of the aircraft after egress; no evidence of fire or smoke. Met CFR (Crash Fire Rescue) upon their arrival at the aircraft. Jump seaters indicated they initially thought the 'smoke' was condensation; coming from overhead vents above L1 and R1 main cabin doors. No evidence of smoke/fire discovered by CFR. Aircraft turned over to maintenance. Unknown; suspected air conditioning and/or issue with pack(s).
Second reporter narrative
Normal 'huffer' start of Engine #2 due to APU inoperative MEL. Normal crossbreed start of Engine #1. Normal taxi. Approaching hold short for Rwy XXR at Taxiway 1/Taxiway 2 intersection. Tower asked if we were 'ready to go.' We were still performing the before takeoff checklist so I replied '30 seconds.' At approximately that same instant the Cockpit Call annunciation/audible alarm came on. CA (Captain) got on intercom and asked jumpseaters (3 aboard) 'What's up?' I heard some garbled comms but clearly heard the word 'smoke.' I transmitted to Tower words to the effect; 'We've got smoke indications; we're going to hold our position.' I went back to investigate. On opening the cockpit door I immediately saw and smelled a significant amount of acrid smoke and all three jumpseaters wearing their O2 masks. The smoke was not so thick as to impair visibility so I turned on the cargo bay and courier area lights with the intention of looking through the smoke barrier windows for fire indications; but by that time I was starting to feel nasal and chest burning so I just returned to the cockpit; which was still relatively smoke-free. I told CA words to the effect; 'yeah this is for real.' We opened our cockpit windows and CA called for the evacuation checklist. We ran the checklist and then CA went back and opened L1; deploying the slide. All 5 of us evacuated via the slide. ZZZ CFR (Crash Fire Rescue) arrived on scene shortly thereafter. Provided them with the DG manifest (NO DG ON BOARD). They inspected for indications of fire and found none.Cause; as yet unknown but suspect AC system. Jumpseaters debriefed us that the smoke started after the second engine (engine #1) was started and at first looked like condensation; but was staying near the ceiling and was getting thicker. They reported it was coming 'out of the walls' and especially near the L and R emergency exit light fairings; which corresponds with AC vents.Would not have prevented this event; but noteworthy: ZZZ CFR crew did not have readily available means to access the aircraft. They had a 'Little Giant' folding ladder but couldn't reach the R1 outside access handle and couldn't climb up through the avionics access door due to their bulky gear. They had to wait until crew stairs arrived.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.