Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Climbing through FL240; we smelled a very strong odor of burning. We completed our memory items and asked ATC for a return for smoke in the cockpit. The Flight Attendant also confirmed a burning odor in the cabin. We declared an emergency and made an expedited return. I was the Pilot Not Flying so I ran the Smoke in Cabin/Cockpit QRH. We landed and had the Fire Department inspect the exterior of the aircraft once we were stopped. We also took a firefighter onboard and had him check the cabin area for evidence of fire. After getting the all clear we returned to the gate and deboarded the passengers. Factors: Fatigue from short overnight and early show; crew communication through oxygen masks; expedited air return [with a] high checklist workload.
I was the Pilot Flying on our climb out when we recognized a strong odor of smoke. There were no visible or aural indications of smoke in the cockpit. We executed the immediate action items and checklist and notified ATC of our emergency and desire to return. We called our Flight Attendant and inquired if the smell was also prevalent in the cabin; which it was. He prepared for our landing and we expedited our arrival; landed and the aircraft was met by the Fire Department. After it was determined it was safe to continue to gate we did so and deplaned without further incident. This was a good reminder to slow down even in an emergency with smoke or a fire to ensure everything is done.
EMB145 flight crew experiences a smoke odor in the cockpit with no visible signs or smoke alarms during climbout. The Flight Attendant also reports a strong smoke odor and the crew returns to the departure airport.