During a postflight inspection; a Captain noticed there was an electrical burning smell coming from the cargo compartment of their CRJ-200; contract maintenances was summoned to assist.
Synopsis
During a postflight inspection; a Captain noticed there was an electrical burning smell coming from the cargo compartment of their CRJ-200; contract maintenances was summoned to assist.
Narrative
During the postflight inspection in ZZZ; there was an electrical burning smell coming from the Cargo Compartment. Maintenance was notified and a Contract Mechanic came and did an inspection of the cargo bin. He began a conversation with our Maintenance Controller and I overheard him saying that everything checks out good and list a few things. One thing I overheard was that the fire-ex was checked. Since I had been in or near the Cockpit the entire time; I knew this not to be true. So I reached up and flipped the switch (on the Fire Detect Monitor panel). Two messages occurred that are not normal during the Test; Cargo Fan Fail and Cargo Shut-off Valve (SOV) Fail Status messages. This ends up requiring an MEL of the entire Cargo bin (no bags allowed per MEL). Even with this missed; the chances of a catastrophic accident are small; but our level of safety would have been reduced to an unacceptable level. Outstation Maintenance was either lazy; incompetent; or lied. Probably a lot of factors were involved. Inexperience on the part of the Outstation personnel coupled with a cultural 'pushing metal' attitude prevalent at our carrier. To me; a burning smell is very serious and I wanted it thoroughly inspected. Our carrier and the Outstation personnel were content to sign-off after a very brief inspection.
NASA callback
Reporter stated the Fire Detect Monitor panel is located in the cockpit overhead ceiling above the center pedestal. He was not sure just how much experience the Contract Mechanic actually had; but he realized the Mechanic certainly did not check the Fire Monitor panel in the cockpit which had the two 'not normal' Status messages on their EICAS display.Reporter stated as result of the two EICAS messages and his conversation with their Maintenance Control; all baggage was removed from the aft cargo compartment and both messages deferred under their MEL. Reporter stated the Cargo Shut-off valve (SOV) is a vent valve. He does not know what was the later Maintenance fix for the two EICAS messages.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.