A B737-300 at the gate with passengers on board filled with fumes presumably from hydraulic over servicing. The flight attendants evacuated the cabin through the jet bridge.
Synopsis
A B737-300 at the gate with passengers on board filled with fumes presumably from hydraulic over servicing. The flight attendants evacuated the cabin through the jet bridge.
Narrative
While doing the preflight walk around; I noticed some excessive hydraulic fluid under the aircraft. It appeared to be coming from a leaking hose on the forward right side of the wheel well compartment in between the A and B hydraulic tanks. I notified the Captain and he called maintenance. We decided to board in hopes of a 'quick fix' to try and minimize our delay. The Contract Mechanic showed up; and after talking to Maintenance Control; told me he was going to be doing some tests. He went outside and I was sitting in my seat with the window open so we could communicate with each other while I turned hydraulic pumps on and off for him as he needed. While we were sitting there; the Captain switched the power over to the APU the rampers disconnected the ground services. When I noticed the air was disconnected; I decided to turn the right pack on for the comfort of the passengers. Shortly after that I started to notice some smoke. My initial thought was that it was coming from the tug outside so I started to close my window. Then I realized it wasn't outside and I immediately turned the right pack off. While doing this I heard the flight attendants issue the evacuation command. I looked back and saw people running out the door. The whole incident lasted only a few seconds. The cabin filled with fumes very quick and the flight attendants did an excellent job of getting everyone out.
Second reporter narrative
Waiting for the paperwork; the Ground personnel pulled the air off the airplane. We already had the APU started so the First Officer turned on the APU bleed and the right pack. Within seconds; fumes and smoke filled the aircraft. The A Flight Attendant yelled smoke in the cabin and started evacuating the aircraft through the front door into the jet bridge. We turned the right pack off and the APU bleed off and the smoke and fumes stopped coming in. We believed the hydraulic fluid of fumes somehow got into the APU ducting and turning the bleed and pack on brought the fumes into the cabin. We shut down the APU and left the aircraft after everyone was off the plane. Contract Maintenance was in the wheel well when this happened and said there was a big mist of fumes causing him to have to leave the area. The Fire Department came and looked the plane over and we explained to them what had happened. Maintenance Control said to write it up as APU bleed air on cabin filled with hydraulic fumes with a strong smell. They said not to put in the hydraulic leak because that was normal for an over-serviced B Hydraulic System.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.