Bombardier DHC-8-400, G-JECE, 4 August 2005
Bombardier DHC-8-400, G-JECE
Summary:
Shortly after initiating a descent, an oily smell was noticed on the flight deck, followed by a smoke build-up in the flight deck and cabin. The flight crew carried out the initial part of the smoke checklist procedure, declared an emergency and carried out a diversion. The cabin crew smoke hoods caused appreciable communication difficulties. After landing, an emergency evacuation was carried out, without injury. The smoke was found to be the result of fatigue cracking of a compressor support member of the No 2 engine. This had led to damage to an oil seal, allowing oil to leak into the bleed air supplying one of the air conditioning units. No means of rapidly ascertaining the source of the smoke was available to the crew. Carrying out the subsequent actions prescribed in the checklist would have stopped the supply of smoke but the procedure was relatively protracted and could not be completed because of a high flight crew workload associated with the diversion. Four safety recommendations have been made.
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