AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IN AN A319'S CABIN OCCURRED DURING START THEN DISSIPATED. AFTER TKOF THE SMELL RETURNED; AN EMER WAS DECLARED WITH A RETURN TO LAND.

Narrative

AFTER PUSHBACK AND ENG START; FLT ATTENDANT 'A' CALLED TO RPT SEVERAL PAX AND AFT FLT ATTENDANTS STATED THEY HAD NOTICED AN 'ELECTRIC BURNING SMELL' DURING ENG START. WE SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGS; AND I PERSONALLY WENT TO THE CABIN TO INVESTIGATE. I QUESTIONED SEVERAL PAX WHO HAD RPTED THE SMELL. ALL STATED THE SMELL WAS TRANSIENT AND THEY COULD NO LONGER DETECT IT. I USED THE HANDSET AND PA TO INFORM ALL PAX OF THE SIT; AND STATE THAT WE WOULD RESTART THE ENGS; AND IF WE HAD ANY MORE UNIDENTED SMELLS; WE WOULD RETURN TO THE GATE. WE RESTARTED THE ENGS AND CALLED FLT ATTENDANT 'A' AND ASKED IF ANYONE COULD SMELL ANYTHING. SHE TOLD US THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL ODORS; SO WE TAXIED TO RWY 25. I WAS PF; AND SHORTLY AFTER TKOF (APPROX 2000 FT AGL) I SMELLED A BURNING ODOR IN THE COCKPIT. I ASKED THE FO IF HE COULD SMELL IT; BUT HE COULD NOT AT FIRST. AT THAT MOMENT; FLT ATTENDANT 'A' CALLED TO SAY THE ODOR HAD RETURNED. I DIRECTED THE FO TO DECLARE AN EMER AND REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO ZZZ. THE FO DONNED HIS OXYGEN MASK; BUT SMELL QUICKLY DISSIPATED; SO I DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE SMOKE/FUMES CHKLIST AND CONCENTRATE ON FLYING THE PLANE FOR AN IMMEDIATE LNDG. WE MADE A L 270 DEG TURN AND INTERCEPTED FINAL FOR RWY 34R AT THE FAF FOR A NORMAL LNDG. WE TAXIED OFF RWY AND STOPPED. WE ASKED THE CRASH CREW TO EXAMINE THE EXTERIOR OF THE PLANE WITH EMPHASIS ON THE LNDG GEAR. ALL APPEARED NORMAL; AND THERE WERE NO MORE ODORS IN THE CABIN OR COCKPIT; SO WE TAXIED TO THE GATE AND SHUT DOWN. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 792674: ON THE CAPT'S ORDER; WE DECLARED AN EMER AND COORDINATED OUR RETURN TO ZZZ. I DONNED THE OXYGEN MASK AND COMMUNICATED WITH ATC REGARDING SOULS ON BOARD; FUEL AND DESIRED RWY. WE SET THE ACFT UP FOR THE RETURN TO FIELD AND COMPLETED A NORMAL APCH. ON APCH; THE ODOR DISSIPATED AND AFTER LNDG (APPROX 80 KTS) I ADVISED THE PAX TO 'REMAIN SEATED.' WE HAD THE FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL INVESTIGATE THE LNDG GEAR BEFORE RETURNING TO THE GATE. EMER PERSONNEL NOTED NOTHING UNUSUAL SO WE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE GATE AND DEPLANE. AFTER COMPLETING ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES THE CAPT ASKED THE ENTIRE CREW IF WE FELT COMFORTABLE CONTINUING ON IN A NEW ACFT. WE ALL FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT DECISION. WE GOT A NEW ACFT FOR THE FLT AND COMPLETED OUR FLT UNEVENTFULLY.