Eastern Australia DH8C at Adelaide on Jun 23rd 2017, smoke in cockpit

Last Update: September 5, 2017 / 14:50:51 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 23, 2017

Classification
Incident

Flight number
QF-2272

Aircraft Registration
VH-TQH

ICAO Type Designator
DH8C

An Eastern Australia de Havilland Dash 8-300 on behalf of Qantas, registration VH-TQH performing flight QF-2272 from Port Lincoln,SA to Adelaide,SA (Australia), was on final approach to Adelaide's runway 23 when the crew detected smoke in the cockpit, declared emergency, continued for a safe landing on runway 23, vacated the runway and performed a rapid disembarkation on the adjacent taxiway.

The ATSB rated the occurrence an incident and opened an investigation estimated to conclude by Nov 2017.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 17 hours, then resumed service.

On Sep 5th 2017 the ATSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the incident was:

- The rudder trim potentiometer burnt in-flight, resulting in fumes and smoke in the cockpit during a critical phase of flight.

- Shortly after landing, the crew conducted a precautionary disembarkation on the taxiway, which reduced the risk of fumes exposure to the aircraft’s occupants.

The ATSB reported the aircraft was on final approach descending through about 300 feet AGL when the captain noticed fumes in the cockpit, the first officer however did not notice any fumes. Descending through about 200 feet both crew detected fumes like an electrical burning odour, looked down onto the center console and noticed grey smoke rising from the switch on the aileron/rudder trim control panel. The captain instructed the first officer to focus on the landing, they would take care of the problem when on the ground. The captain informed ATC who considered the information as a PAN call. After landing the aircraft vacated onto a taxiway and stopped, the captain called the Smoke Checklist, which was worked. This involved the flight crew donning their oxygen masks, switching the microphones to the masks and turn off the recirculation fans to avoid smoke being circulated within the aircraft. The smoke had dissipated by then but the fumes were still present. The crew shut the aircraft down and advised passengers of smoke in the cockpit and they would perform a precautionary disembarkation. Passengers in seat rows 4 and 5 also reported the presence of fumes. The crew worked the on-ground non normal checklist and initiated the disembarkation. Prior to the crew leaving the aircraft all power was shut down as required by the checklist.

Maintenance found the rudder trim potentiometer blackened and burnt.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 23, 2017

Classification
Incident

Flight number
QF-2272

Aircraft Registration
VH-TQH

ICAO Type Designator
DH8C

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