A AIRBUS-300 ON APCH DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO A PAX SEAT ELECRONICS UNIT EMITTING SPARKS AND FLAME.
Synopsis
A AIRBUS-300 ON APCH DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO A PAX SEAT ELECRONICS UNIT EMITTING SPARKS AND FLAME.
Narrative
UPON TAKING MY JUMPSEAT 3L FOR LNDG; WHILE STRAPPING INTO THE SEAT; I HEARD SEVERAL CALL-LIGHT BELLS GO OFF; DIRECTING MY ATTENTION BACK OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER; OBSERVING SEVERAL PAXS OUT OF THEIR SEATS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE AREA OF SEAT XYZ. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A MEDICAL EMER (AT THAT POINT I SAW NO SMOKE OR FLAME); I CROSSED TO 3R AND PROCEEDED UP THE RIGHT HAND SIDE TO THE AREA OF SEAT XYZ. BY THAT TIME; THERE WAS SMOKE; I INSPECTED THE AREA TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE; PAXS TOLD ME AND SEVERAL OTHER ASSEMBLED FA'S; THAT SPARKS AND FLAME HAD BEEN OBSERVED FROM UNDER THE SEAT IN THE METAL-COVERED ELECTRICAL BOX. A FA BROUGHT THE HALON; ONLY SMOKE REMAINED; BUT SHE SPRAYED HALON ON THE BOX AS A PRECAUTION TO BE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT COMPLETELY. WE LANDED WITH SLIGHT SMOKE IN THE CABIN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS ON APCH AND THE FA'S WERE STRAPPED INTO THE JUMPSEATS WHEN CALL CHIMES WENT OFF. THE RPTR SAID; 'SEVERAL FA'S INCLUDING MYSELF CONVERGED ON PEOPLE STANDING IN THE AISLE WHERE WE DISCOVERED SMOKE; SPARKS AND A FLAME COMING FROM A UNDER SEAT ELECTRONIC BOX.' THE RPTR STATED THE BOX IS USED FOR PAX ENTERTAINMENT VIDEO AND PWR PORT FOR LAPTOP COMPUTERS. THE RPTR STATED THE PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT WAS REMOVED BEFORE DISCHARGING THE HALON FIRE BOTTLE AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE RPTR STATED NO TRAINING ON THE NEW SYS WAS GIVEN AND CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATION IS UNKNOWN.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.