AN LGT ON TAXIING TO THE GATE EXPERIENCED THE PACK COOLING FAN CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIP INDUCING HOT AIR AND SMOKE INTO THE CABIN.

Narrative

AFTER LNDG SFO; THE L AIR-CONDITIONING PACK COOLING FAN CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED; THUS NO COOLING; AND THE PACK OVERHEATED AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHUT DOWN. BUT BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN; THE EXTREMELY HOT AIR PRODUCED SMOKE IN THE CABIN/COCKPIT. I USED THE PA TO KEEP THE PEOPLE SEATED AND TOLD THEM THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AN OVERHEATED AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT; AND THAT WE SHUT THE UNIT DOWN. THE SMOKE BEGAN TO DISSIPATE. I CONTINUED TO THE GATE. SEVERAL PAX WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE SMOKE WAS TOXIC; AND LET ME KNOW THAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO PROTECT THEIR BREATHING ENVIRONMENT. (AIR-CONDITIONING SMOKE IS NOT TOXIC. IT IS A PRODUCT OF HEATED MOISTURE AND PERHAPS RESIDUAL OIL.) SEVERAL PAX FELT I SHOULD HAVE REASSURED THEM THAT THE SMOKE WAS NOT TOXIC. WE WERE VERY BUSY IN THE COCKPIT; TAXIING AND RUNNING REGULAR AND IRREGULAR CHKLISTS THAT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH AT THAT TIME TO BE TALKING ON THE PA. I REALLY THINK THAT SOME OF THE FLYING PUBLIC MAKE UP THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS AS TO WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT; AND IT PROBABLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MY EXPLANATION OF THE SIT IS. IF THEY BELIEVE THE SMOKE WAS TOXIC; THEN IT WAS TOXIC IN THEIR MINDS. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO OR SAY AT THE TIME TO REASSURE THESE PEOPLE THAT I WAS DOING THE SAFE COURSE OF ACTION.