Lufthansa B735 at Frankfurt and Graz on Mar 2nd 2013, odour in cockpit

Last Update: March 30, 2013 / 16:25:59 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 2, 2013

Classification
Incident

Airline
Lufthansa

Flight number
LH-1260

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Graz, Austria

Aircraft Registration
D-ABIL

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-500

ICAO Type Designator
B735

A Lufthansa Boeing 737-500, registration D-ABIL performing flight LH-1260 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Graz (Austria) with 58 passengers and 5 crew, was climbing out of Frankfurt's runway 18 when the crew observed a strong smell of "old socks" in the cockpit, which dissipated a short time later. The flight was continued to Graz. On approach to Graz the smell re-appeared prompting the crew to don their oxygen masks. The aircraft landed safely on runway 35C and taxied to the gate.

Medical services reported that the captain suspecting intoxication wanted blood and urine sampling of all crew members while on the ground in Graz, however, this would have required the crew to go to the university clinics downtown. The captain thus decided to perform the return flight on schedule without sampling.

The aircraft departed for flight LH-1261 on schedule and reached Frankfurt on time.

The aircraft remained on the ground in Frankfurt for 6 hours before resuming service.

Austria's VERSA (Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority) have opened an investigation into the incident.

On Mar 25th 2013 Lufthansa confirmed to Austrianwings, that the left hand engine (CFM56) was replaced after landing in Frankfurt. It was determined that anti-ice fluid had caused the odour.

On Mar 30th 2013 the NTSB reported that the odour of old socks was present immediately after takeoff for about 3 minutes and again about 5 minutes prior to landing again for 3 minutes. Both flight crew donned their oxygen masks while the smell was present in the cockpit and front galley. Austria's VERSA is investigating the occurrence, the NTSB have appointed an accredited representative to the investigation.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 2, 2013

Classification
Incident

Airline
Lufthansa

Flight number
LH-1260

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Graz, Austria

Aircraft Registration
D-ABIL

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-500

ICAO Type Designator
B735

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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