BE200 SINGLE PLT SMELT ODOR OF SMOKE IN COCKPIT; DECLARES AN EMERGENCY AND RETURNS FOR AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING.

Narrative

I HAD DEPARTED ZZZ ARPT ON THE DEP PROC CLBING THROUGH 12000 FT AND WAS JUST GIVEN A CLRNC DIRECT TO ABC VOR. I SUDDENLY SMELLED AN ODOR OF SMOKE IN THE ACFT. I TURNED AROUND TO CHK ON THE PAX TO SEE IF THEY WERE EATING OR DOING SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR. ONE OF MY PAX NOTICED THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AND MOVED FORWARD TO INFORM ME THAT HE SMELLED SMOKE AND IT WAS WORSE IN THE COCKPIT AREA. I DECIDED TO RETURN IMMEDIATELY TO ZZZ AND INFORMED APCH. ATC GAVE ME A HDG AND ASSIGNED ME AN ALT OF 10000 FT. I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS AND FELT THAT AN EMER DSCNT WAS A MORE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION. I DECLARED AN EMER STARTED AN EMER DSCNT AND REQUESTED A HDG TO ZZZ ARPT. DURING THE DSCNT I HAD TO FLY THE ACFT; CHANGE CTLRS; PERFORM THE EMER CHKLIST; ADVISE BOTH CTLRS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL AND NUMBER OF SOULS ON BOARD; TELL THE PAX WHAT WAS HAPPENING; AND ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. DURING ALL THIS I STRAYED OFF SOME OF THE HDGS THAT APCH HAD GIVEN ME AND ALLOWED MYSELF TO BECOME SLIGHTLY DISORIENTED FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. I GOT BACK TO FLY THE ACFT FIRST; ACQUIRED THE ARPT VISUALLY AND ADVISED APCH THAT I HAD A VISUAL ON THE ARPT. I WAS THEN HANDED OVER TO TWR; GIVEN A CLRNC TO LAND AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT ZZZ ARPT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OR INJURY TO ANY PAX. A THOROUGH MAINT INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE ACFT THE NEXT DAY AND NO DISCREPANCIES OR ANY BURNED WIRES; COMPONENTS; OR OTHER ITEMS COULD BE LOCATED. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO SITS SUCH AS THIS; BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT FLY THE ACFT FIRST IS VERY APPROPRIATE. ON THE OTHER HAND THE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS THAT COULD OCCUR AT HIGH ALT IN A PRESSURIZED ACFT IF THE SOURCE OF A FIRE WAS NOT ELIMINATED REMIND ME OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DEALING WITH THESE SITS. WE PRACTICE THESE EMERS IN THE SIMULATORS EVERY YR DURING RECURRENCY AND I BELIEVE THAT CONTINUED PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE WILL HELP US RESPOND TO SITS SUCH AS THESE IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE MANNER.