2011-04 · NASA ASRS report 946515
B737 flight crew experiences a strong petroleum smell shortly after takeoff and elects to to return for and overweight landing. The passengers include elderly and wheel chairs. The crew believes that had an evacuation been necessary it would have been problematic.
This was a charter flight. The Agent claimed that we had 90 wheelchair passengers on board the aircraft. It took longer than normal to get underway but we left the gate uneventfully. Just after we were airborne; there was a very strong odor in the cockpit that smelled like it was petroleum-based. We were cleaning up the aircraft and getting a frequency change and a climb to a higher altitude. I was getting ready to ask the Captain what he thought of the smell. At that time; we received a chime from the cabin; signaling an emergency. They had the same fumes in the cabin but no visible smoke. They stated that it was stronger toward the aft portion of the cabin. At that time; the Captain and I decided that we needed to get the aircraft back on the ground. We donned our oxygen masks and went about the getting back to the airport. I quickly ran the numbers for our weight and we determined that we could safely return despite being over max landing weight and having a wet runway. While I was on the radio trying to coordinate our return; the Captain started on the QRH procedure. He had some difficulty finding the correct section due to the fact that we were not thinking about looking in the Fire section because we just had fumes. The ATC frequency was very congested and it took a couple of minutes to get a word in with the Controller. We declared an emergency and they vectored us back. Because the runway was wet; we decided that we were just going to stop the aircraft straight ahead on the runway. The fumes seemed to dissipate as we got closer to landing. We landed uneventfully and had the airport Crash; Fire and Rescue Crew check the aircraft on the runway. We then proceeded to the gate. We were very fortunate that we did not have to evacuate the aircraft. With 2/3 of the plane being full of wheelchair passengers and half of the remaining passengers being elderly;it would have been a big problem. These flights have escorts that go along on the trip but I am pretty sure that they have no training in how to handle an emergency on the aircraft. I think they are just along to help on the ground. They are outnumbered by at least a four to one margin. In an emergency; they would be completely overwhelmed. We had outstanding Flight Attendants on this flight but I am sure that they would not be able to handle the situation. It would be physically impossible.
Upon commencement of our takeoff roll; a strong petroleum smell was evident in the cockpit. Shortly after getting airborne; we received a call from the Flight Attendants telling us of the same strong smell in the cabin. We donned our oxygen masks. The smell we were experiencing was definitely petroleum-based; but I did not think it was jet fuel fumes. While my First Officer was talking to ATC; I pulled out the QRH to proceed to the remaining steps for fumes in the cockpit/cabin; and at first; looked in the Air Systems tab. I didn't find what I was looking for; of course; because the procedure is under the tab named; Fires. I was momentarily delayed in finding the correct checklist page; I think; in part because we were not on fire; and that kind of delayed my efforts a little.Further information was now available from the cabin (smell was stronger in the aft cabin; and no evidence of fire was present); and after a quick check of the numbers; we elected to return. Back in the QRH with the correct checklist page now at hand; we proceeded to execute the steps. After reaching Step 10; we proceeded to the right decision tree column; and completed the first step (Equip Cooling Supply/Exhaust Switches (Both)-Alt). Some confusion then set in; because the next steps seemed to be concerned with an electrical malfunction as the source of the fumes; and our fumes were not electrical in nature. So we concentrated on landing the airplane; and didn't have time to switch packs and time for two minutes; etc. We got the airplane on deck and had the Crash and Rescue folks check the airplane out before clearing the runway. After being given the 'all clear' by the Crash and Rescue Team; we taxied to the gate.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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