B757 FLT CREW AT FL360 REPORTS SMELLING ELECTRICAL FUMES IN THE FORWARD CABIN AND DIVERTS TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Date: 2007-05 · Aircraft: B757-200 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-other-unknown|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-smoke-fire-fumes-odor

Synopsis

B757 FLT CREW AT FL360 REPORTS SMELLING ELECTRICAL FUMES IN THE FORWARD CABIN AND DIVERTS TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative

PURSER CALLED DURING CRUISE TO RPT STRONG BURNING SMELL IN GALLEY AREA. I NEEDED A RESTROOM BREAK; SO I WENT BACK TO THE GALLEY; BUT COULD NOT SMELL ANYTHING BURNING. THERE WAS A FAINT ODOR IN THE FORWARD LAVATORY; BUT I COULDN'T DETERMINE THE ORIGIN AND THERE WERE NO DETECTABLE HOT SPOTS. EXITING THE LAVATORY AREA; ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT SAID SHE DETECTED THE ODOR NEAR THE L FORWARD DOOR; BUT WE STILL COULDN'T PINPOINT THE LOCATION. I FINALLY NOTICED THE SMELL AGAIN WHEN I OPENED THE LAVATORY DOOR; BUT IT WAS STILL VERY FAINT. HEADING BACK UP TO THE COCKPIT; I TOLD THE FO THAT I WAS CONSIDERING GOING TO ZZZ; BUT WANTED HIM TO CHK AND SEE IF HE COULD LOCATE THE SOURCE. HE BRIEFLY WENT BACK AND RETURNED TO RPT THAT THE SMELL WAS NOW PRETTY STRONG; SO WE DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO ZZZ. MECHS LATER DETERMINED THAT A SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD LAVATORY DOOR FRAME; WHICH TURNS ON AN OVERHEAD LIGHT IN THE LAVATORY WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED; HAD FAILED AND THE BURNING SMELL WAS THE SWITCH WIRING AND BULKHEAD INSULATION.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.