A320 flight crew is informed of electrical sparks beneath passenger seats in the cabin. Crew diverts to the nearest suitable airport while the Captain preforms the QRH procedure for smoke and fumes and flight attendants use fire extinguishers on the sparks. Flight lands safely and passengers are deplaned at the gate. All power is removed from the aircraft before the electrical sparking stops. The crew accepts assignment to continue to destination in another aircraft.
Synopsis
A320 flight crew is informed of electrical sparks beneath passenger seats in the cabin. Crew diverts to the nearest suitable airport while the Captain preforms the QRH procedure for smoke and fumes and flight attendants use fire extinguishers on the sparks. Flight lands safely and passengers are deplaned at the gate. All power is removed from the aircraft before the electrical sparking stops. The crew accepts assignment to continue to destination in another aircraft.
Narrative
The First Flight Attendant called the cockpit to inform that there were sparks coming from the floor below a seat and was using a fire extinguisher and that she would get back to us. I discussed diversion options with the First Officer. Shortly Flight Attendant advised me that the extinguisher did not put out the sparks and were deploying the second extinguisher. I declared an emergency with ATC and advised them that we needed to divert. I ran the smoke fumes fire QRH while the First Officer flew the aircraft. I spoke with Flight Attendant several times as she advised that the sparks did not subside. I told her the time to land and to prep for evacuation but would check in again with her. I notified Dispatch via ACARS that we were diverting and to have fire and rescue ready. Flight Attendant advised that there were still sparks but not as bad. We landed and taxied clear of the runway. Flight Attendant informed me that the sparks had stopped so I elected to taxi to gate and deplane via jetbridge. Passengers were deplaned quickly without there bags. Fire and rescue found a bare wire under the seat that was wet and appeared to be the cause. We had to totally power down the aircraft to get the sparks to completely stop.
Second reporter narrative
Flight Attendant called back with more details: electric sparks flying in emergency exit row. Captain made decision to divert; by then we were 64 NM west of the divert airport. Captain declared emergency with ATC. ATC initially slow to react then gave us direct to the airport and lower. I was flying aircraft; started descent; input direct to the airport; and then changed destination; descended at 320 KTS with full speed brakes. Captain was busy coordinating with ATC; Dispatch; and cabin; ran 'smoke/fire/fumes' QRH; and got ATIS. I told ATC we would land XXR; input landing data; activate and confirm; kept speed at 320 KTS with full speedbrakes to 3;000 FT; then slowed and configured aircraft. Approach did excellent job vectoring us for altitude loss and put us in a perfect position for landing XXR. [It was] VMC at the airport; [our] landing [was] normal. Cleared runway and taxied to gate followed by emergency vehicles. Deplaned passengers via jetway. [We] had to completely power down aircraft to stop sparking. I still have no idea how much time passed between getting first call and landing. Probably the usual 10-15 minutes; in my mind; it feels like a blur of focused; coordinated activity. Aircraft was under maximum landing weight. Captain and I were debriefed and answered a series of questions. I thought the questions were well formulated and the answers offered good options. However; I feel they were asked too soon after the stress event: I answered truthfully and the way I felt at that time but I still had a fairly large amount of adrenaline in my system. Had I been asked the same questions 2 hours later; I think some of my answers would have been different. Both Captain and I flew the continuation of our flight. I realized after takeoff that I was in my 'coming down from the adrenaline rush' process; I felt shaky and unfocused during the flight. In hindsight; I feel that I should not have been flying that leg AT THAT TIME.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.