FUMES AND ODORS IN CABIN AND COCKPIT OF MD88 RESULTS IN EMERGENCY DIVERSION ENROUTE.

Narrative

ACFT WAS COMPLETING ITS IFR CLB TO CRUISE ALT (FL210). WHILE PASSING THROUGH 17000 FT MSL CAPT AND FO IDENTED A FAINT ODOR; SIMILAR TO PROPANE; WHICH WAS INITIALLY ATTRIBUTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES; EXTERIOR TO THE ACFT (IE; REFINERIES). SHORTLY THEREAFTER; A FLT ATTENDANT FROM THE AFT JUMP SEAT CONTACTED THE CAPT VIA INTERPHONE TO RPT SMELLING A FAINT BURNING SMELL FROM THE TAIL COMPARTMENT. BY THIS TIME; THE SMELL PREVIOUSLY IDENTED IN THE FLT DECK HAD DISSIPATED. FLT ATTENDANT RPTED NO VISUAL INDICATIONS IN THE CABIN OR VIA THE TAIL COMPARTMENT PORTHOLE OF ANY SMOKE OR FIRE. CAPT ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE AFT LAVATORIES AND AFT GALLEY TO HELP ASCERTAIN SOURCE OF ODOR. FLT ATTENDANT MAINTAINED THAT THE TAIL COMPARTMENT WAS THE SOURCE IN HER OPINION. NO HEAT WAS DETECTED IN AFT CABIN DOOR OR FLOOR AREA. CAPT DIRECTED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO MONITOR THE SITUATION; AND TO SEE IF THE ODOR MIGHT DISSIPATE ONCE CRUISE PWR WAS ESTABLISHED. THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL ODOR DETECTED IN THE FLT DECK FOR REMAINDER OF FLT; BUT THE FLT ATTENDANTS CONTINUED TO RPT THE CONSISTENT PRESENCE OF BURNING ODOR; BUT NOW ALSO FROM THE FORWARD LAVATORY AREA; AFT GALLEY; AND VICINITY OF ROW 14 (CAPT'S SIDE) OVERHEAD AREA. CAPT INITIATED QRH PROCS FOR 'SMOKE OR FUMES AIR CONDITIONING' WHILE FO ASSUMED EXTERNAL RADIO COMS. ONCE IT WAS CLR THE STEPS TO ISOLATE THE POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUMES WAS NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL; COUPLED WITH ATC DELAYING VECTORS FOR OUR DEST (ZZZ); CAPT DECLARED AN 'EMER' FOR PRIORITY HANDLING TO ZZZ. APCH CTL CLRED US DIRECT TO ZZZ AND THE VISUAL. APCH/LNDG UNEVENTFUL; WITH PRIORITY TAXI GRANTED TO THE GATE. NO INJURIES RPTED. SOURCE OF FUMES CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY COMPANY.