CRJ200 evaluated after experiencing smoke in the cabin and a CAS TOILET SMOKE warning on taxi-in.
Synopsis
CRJ200 evaluated after experiencing smoke in the cabin and a CAS TOILET SMOKE warning on taxi-in.
Narrative
We were changed into a different aircraft by Dispatch. Arriving at the aircraft it was shut down and Contract Maintenance was on board. The aircraft also had a bad smell. The previous write up was 'AMBER TOILET SMOKE ON SHUTDOWN; WITH SMOKE SMELL.' We started the APU and the Mechanic went through his procedures and closed the write-up. We complained about the smell and talked with Maintenance. After the Ramp Manager sprayed the cabin with deodorant the smell improved. At this point the APU had been running for over 30 minutes. The write-up was cleared and the smell was dissipating so we decided to continue with the flight. We flew to our destination with no incident. After landing and on taxi in the First Officer switched the bleeds to the APU and the AMBER TOILET SMOKE CAS message came on. Then the Flight Attendant reported smoke in the cabin. We evacuated from the main cabin door. With the aircraft shut down the cabin only had a trace of smoke. When I went through the cabin checking after all passengers deplaned I checked the lavatory and there was less smoke than in the cabin. Speaking with Maintenance it seems that the APU was the source of the smoke. Maintenance told me that the oil in the APU was over-serviced. So the APU was deferred; and the aircraft run-up with engine power and no smoke entered the aircraft. The aircraft was returned to service.
Second reporter narrative
Upon completing our first leg of the day; we were swapped into an aircraft that had prior maintenance. Dispatch did not inform us of the problem; just that we were swapping. When we reached the aircraft; Bombardier maintenance was on board the aircraft. The write up in the logbook was for a 'SMOKE TOILET' amber caution message. The aircraft had a strong odor present. We had heard rumors in operations that the aircraft evacuated on the taxiway; but never found out what happened. After approximately an hour the mechanic came up and signed the logbook; and told us that he could find no source of smoke. In his sign off he wrote 'no noticeable smell or odor.' We began boarding passengers; and they all were complaining of a strong odor present on the aircraft. The Captain; called maintenance and informed them of the odor. Operations came out and sprayed Lysol on the airplane with passengers already on board. The passengers said that the smell had dissipated; and we continued on with the flight to our destination. The flight went with no issue; until landing. Upon landing; I started the APU; and switched the bleeds from the engines to the APU. Shortly after this we had the 'SMOKE TOILET' message again. The flight attendant called up and confirmed that the cabin was indeed filling with smoke. We made the decision to evacuate on the taxiway. The aircraft was towed to the gate after fire and rescue released it. Upon inspection by the contract mechanic; he found the APU was over serviced with oil; and leaking onto the packs. After swapping the bleeds to the APU; the packs heated up and produced the smoke. Maintenance decided to MEL the APU; and we finished our day with no further incident.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.