C1/2011L Serious Incident caused by Smoke in the Cockpit North of Pori on 28 November 2011

A flight, operated by Flybe Finland Plc, departed Vaasa airport for Tallinn at 11.34.There were seven passengers and four crew members on board. When the flight reached its cruising altitude dark smoke began to pour out of the aeroplane’s ACARS printer. The pilots donned their oxygen masks, started an immediate descent and made the decision to land at Pori airport. The flight crew experienced problems in donning and using their oxygen masks. The incident did not result in any injuries to persons.

The smoke in the cockpit came from the ACARS system’s thermal printer, located on the pedestal between the pilots. A paper clip, which showed signs of having been heated, was found inside the printer. The paper clip caused a short circuit in the printer. The smoke generation ended when the printer’s circuit breaker tripped. There was no actual fire inside the printer.

Safety Investigation Authority, Finland issued the following two Safety recommendations: the Finnish Transport Safety Agency should ensure that condition of oxygen masks used in flight simulators are equivalent to the ones in aeroplanes and that Finavia corporation´s re-assess the training implementation and updating of its present Critical Incident Stress Management System.

Safety Recommendations:

1. Safety Investigation Authority Finland recommend that the Finnish Transport Safety Agency ensure that the validation of the oxygen masks condition during the annual flight simulator inspections be carried out via subjective testing. The condition of oxygen masks used in flight simulators must be equivalent to that oxygen in the aircraft.
2. Safety Investigation Authority, Finland recommend that Finavia Corporation re-assess the training, implementation and updating of its present Critical Incident Stress Management system.

Additional information
Chief Air Safety Investigator
Ismo Aaltonen
tel. 02951 50703

C1/2011L Report (pdf, 0.57 Mt)