A B767 CREW; SHORTLY AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALTITUDE; EXPERIENCED AN EQUIPMENT COOLING COMPARTMENT OVERHEAT AND DIVERTED TO IAD.

Narrative

I WAS FLYING THE PLANNED FLT FROM JFK TO LAX. SHORTLY AFTER REACHING OUR CRUISE ALTITUDE OF FL350 THE EQUIP COOLING OVHT LIGHT ON THE OVERHEAD PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE EICAS DISPLAYED 'FWD EQUIP COOLING.' THE CAPT THEN TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AND INSTRUCTED ME TO GET OUT LOUD TO THE CAPT. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED THE 'NO COOLING' AND 'OVHT' FAULT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE OVERHEAD PANEL. IN CONTINUING AND COMPLETING THE CHECK LIST IT INSTRUCTS US TO LAND AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT. THE CAPT THEN HAD ME CONTACT MAINT AND DISPATCH. DURING MY CONVERSATION WITH MAINT; THE CAPT INITIATED A DIVERT TO IAD. IN CONVERSING WITH MAINT AND DISPATCH ABOUT PROBLEM AT HAND I NOTICED THAT ALL FAULT INDICATORS HAD EXTINGUISHED. THERE WAS NOW NO EICAS OR FAULT INDICATIONS ILLUMINATED. I MADE THIS KNOWN TO THE CAPT; MAINT; AND DISPATCH. I INFORMED THEM THE LIGHTS WERE ON FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3 MINUTES. MAINT INFORMED US THAT THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY AND THIS PROBABLY IS JUST A REPEAT; AND TO CONTINUE TO LAX. THE CAPT AND I AGREED IT BEST TO CONTINUE OUR DESCENT INTO IAD AND I INFORMED MAINT AND DISPATCH OF OUR INTENTIONS. I THEN DISCONTINUED MY PATCH WITH MAINT AND GAVE MY FULL ATTENTION TO ASSISTING THE CAPT IN SAFELY LANDING THE ACFT IN IAD. WE WERE NOW DESCENDING THRU FL200. I TOOK OVER THE COMMUNICATIONS; RECEIVED AN ATIS; BRIEFED THE APCH; AND COMPLETED THE APCH. AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING WE TAXIED IN AND PARKED