DOC AIRBUS | TSM A320FIdentification of the Cause of Cabin Odors or Smoke
TASK 05-50-00-810-831-A
Identification of the Cause of Cabin Odors or Smoke
1. Possible Causes
A. Referenced Information
3. Fault Confirmation
Subtask 05-50-00-710-079-A
Subtask 05-50-00-810-085-A
[Rev.8 from Aug 2018]
2026.04.04 04:38:48 UTC
Identification of the Cause of Cabin Odors or Smoke
1. Possible Causes
- APU
- ENG 1
- ENG 2
- Bird strike
- PACK 1
- PACK 2
- Leakage in the hydraulic system
- De-icing fluid ingestion
Cabin items (coffee maker, hot plate, oven, dry ice, toilet, ballast unit, reading light, extract fan, heated floor panel, light bulb) Cockpit items (rain repellent fluid, reading light, extract fan, avionics blower, MCDU, GPCU, TRU, RMP, ELAC, light bulb, FCU, VHF1) - Chlorine odor
A. Referenced Information
| REFERENCE | DESIGNATION |
|---|---|
| TSM TASK 21-00-00-810-801-A | Oil in the Air Conditioning System |
| TSM TASK 49-00-00-810-921-A | Fumes in the Cabin/Oil Smoke at the APU Exhaust (APS 3200) |
| TSM TASK 49-00-81-810-874-A | Fumes in the Cabin/Oil Smoke at the APU Exhaust (131-9(A)) |
| TSM TASK 71-00-00-810-802-A | Smoke and/or Oil Smell in the Cabin |
| AMM 05-51-14-200-803 | Inspection of the Aircraft after a Bird Strike |
| AMM 29-00-00-790-001 | Check of the External Leaks of the Hydraulic Components |
| AMM 49-16-00-210-004 | General Visual Inspection of the APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake (GTCP 36-300) |
| AMM 49-16-00-210-005 | General Visual Inspection of the APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake (APS 3200) |
| AMM 49-16-00-210-802 | General Visual Inspection of APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake (131-9(A)) |
Process for the Identification of Cabin Odor or Smoke SourceSubtask 05-50-00-710-079-A
A. Cabin Odor or Smoke Reporting Sheet (COSRS)
The COSRS is made to record the specific aircraft parameters when cabin odor or smoke occurs. It helps to find the possible cause of cabin odor or smoke.
The COSRS is divided into two parts:
If a strong odor occurs in a specified area (such as galley, toilet or vestibule area), it can be easy to find its most probable cause (Type 9 odor). Thus, start the inspection directly in this area.
(1) How to use the COSRS
(a) Record the flight conditions when the odor or smoke occurs:
Subtask 05-50-00-710-080-A The COSRS is made to record the specific aircraft parameters when cabin odor or smoke occurs. It helps to find the possible cause of cabin odor or smoke.
The COSRS is divided into two parts:
- The aircraft configuration
- The crew comments.
NOTE: It is necessary to print all of paragraph 3.A. Cabin Odor or Smoke Reporting Sheet (COSRS) to use COSRS.
NOTE: The more accurately the airline records the data on the COSRS, the easier the trouble shooting will be.
If a strong odor occurs in a specified area (such as galley, toilet or vestibule area), it can be easy to find its most probable cause (Type 9 odor). Thus, start the inspection directly in this area.
(1) How to use the COSRS
NOTE: During the flight, the crew must complete the reporting sheet when time is available and if possible during the flight.
When the odor or smoke occurs, the communication between the cockpit and the cabin crew must be as accurate as possible for better reporting. (a) Record the flight conditions when the odor or smoke occurs:
- The flight phase
- The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) bleed position
- The cross-bleed position
- The conditions of the packs
- The engine bleed position.
- The intensity
- The type of odor or smoke
- The applicable areas.
B. Find the cause of the Cabin Odor or Smoke (COS)
(1) Use this procedure to find the cause of the COS:
(a) COSRS
If COS occurs, the airline must record the related data on the COSRS and use it to start all trouble shooting procedures.
The decision table is made to help the operator to find the possible causes of the COS.
This table uses the available operator feedback and gives a guideline to do the trouble shooting.
Each line of the table is related to one of the parameters shown on the COSRS.
If this parameter is applicable (there is data for it in the COSRS), you must highlight all the figures on the line for the parameter.
When all the applicable lines are highlighted, add all the highlighted figures in each vertical column.
Record the total on the TOTAL line.
The highest totals show the most probable sources.
(c) Example of how to use the decision table.
4. Fault Isolation(1) Use this procedure to find the cause of the COS:
(a) COSRS
If COS occurs, the airline must record the related data on the COSRS and use it to start all trouble shooting procedures.
NOTE: The more accurately the airline records the data on this sheet, the easier the trouble shooting will be.
(b) Decision Table The decision table is made to help the operator to find the possible causes of the COS.
This table uses the available operator feedback and gives a guideline to do the trouble shooting.
Each line of the table is related to one of the parameters shown on the COSRS.
If this parameter is applicable (there is data for it in the COSRS), you must highlight all the figures on the line for the parameter.
When all the applicable lines are highlighted, add all the highlighted figures in each vertical column.
Record the total on the TOTAL line.
The highest totals show the most probable sources.
(c) Example of how to use the decision table.
Subtask 05-50-00-810-085-A
A. Corrective Action Types
(1) Type 1
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is the APU :
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is ENG 1 :
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is ENG 2 :
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is a Bird strike :
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is PACK 1 :
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is PACK 2 :
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is a Leakage in the hydraulic system :
1 Do the procedure: Check of the External Leaks of the Hydraulic Components AMM 29-00-00-790-001.
2 Do the procedure: General Visual Inspection of the APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake
(a) The cause of the COS is De-icing fluid ingestion :
1 Do the procedure: General Visual Inspection of the APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake
(a) The cause of the COS is miscellaneous:
Cabin items (coffee maker, hot plate, oven, dry ice, toilet, ballast unit, reading light, extract fan, heated floor panel, light bulb) :
Cockpit items (rain repellent fluid, reading light, extract fan, avionics blower, MCDU, GPCU, TRU, RMP, ELAC, light bulb, FCU, VHF1) :
a A light chlorine odor which occurs only one time during flight (specially during cruise) can be related to a flight through atmospheric ozone. If the galley/toilet cleaning materials or the passenger carry-on items are not the source of the chlorine odor:
(1) Type 1
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is the APU :
- Do the procedure for GTCP 36-300 APU (if installed): Fumes in the Cabin/Oil Smoke at the APU Exhaust (Ref. TSM TASK 49-00-00-810-846).
- Do the procedure for APS 3200 APU (if installed): Fumes in the Cabin/Oil Smoke at the APU Exhaust (Ref. TSM TASK 49-00-00-810-921).
- Do the procedure for 131-9(A) APU (if installed): Fumes in the Cabin/Oil Smoke at the APU Exhaust (Ref. TSM TASK 49-00-81-810-874).
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is ENG 1 :
- Do the procedure: Smoke and/or Oil Smell in the Cabin (Ref. TSM TASK 71-00-00-810-802).
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is ENG 2 :
- Do the procedure: Smoke and/or Oil Smell in the Cabin (Ref. TSM TASK 71-00-00-810-802).
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is a Bird strike :
- Do the procedure: Inspection of the Airframe after a Bird Strike AMM 05-51-14-200-803.
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is PACK 1 :
- Do the procedure: Oil in the Air Conditioning System (Ref. TSM TASK 21-00-00-810-801).
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is PACK 2 :
- Do the procedure: Oil in the Air Conditioning System (Ref. TSM TASK 21-00-00-810-801).
(a) The most probable cause of the COS is a Leakage in the hydraulic system :
1 Do the procedure: Check of the External Leaks of the Hydraulic Components AMM 29-00-00-790-001.
2 Do the procedure: General Visual Inspection of the APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake
- For GTCP 36-300 APU (if installed) AMM 49-16-00-210-004
- For APS 3200 APU (if installed) AMM 49-16-00-210-005
- For 131-9(A) APU (if installed) AMM 49-16-00-210-802.
(a) The cause of the COS is De-icing fluid ingestion :
1 Do the procedure: General Visual Inspection of the APU Air Inlet Plenum and APU Air Intake
- For GTCP 36-300 APU (if installed) AMM 49-16-00-210-004
- For APS 3200 APU (if installed) AMM 49-16-00-210-005
- For 131-9(A) APU (if installed) AMM 49-16-00-210-802.
- If you find contamination, clean the ram-air-inlet with clean water and a soft cloth.
(a) The cause of the COS is miscellaneous:
NOTE: If you cannot find the cause of the COS with one of corrective action types 1 to 8, the probable source of the COS is miscellaneous (Type 9).
1 - Examine the related equipments.
- Examine the related equipments.
a A light chlorine odor which occurs only one time during flight (specially during cruise) can be related to a flight through atmospheric ozone. If the galley/toilet cleaning materials or the passenger carry-on items are not the source of the chlorine odor:
- Make sure that the maintenance interval and the efficiency of the ozone converters 100HM and 101HM (if installed) are correct.