Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 2; Flight Crew Total 995; Flight Crew Type 165
Confusion; Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Aircraft
After departure I made contact with Approach and was assigned squawk for flight following to destination. While climbing to cruising altitude of 9;500 FT there was a smell of burnt plastic and small amount of white smoke. All engine instruments indicate normal operation. No circuit breakers blown. Told ATC was going to change destination and return to the departure airport. [I] made the 180 to return still no indication from instruments of malfunction. Believing the smoke was electrical I turned off all radios and electronic devices not needed for flight and removed from under right seat the fire extinguisher and continued to my destination. Once I had the airport in sight I told Approach and they cleared me to change frequencies and to keep my assigned squawk. Still with small amount of white smoke made normal landing and taxi to parking. Before shutdown [I had] no indication from instruments of abnormal operation. After shutdown opened all doors and let light smoke out. No indication of any further smoke accumulation at this time. I believe the cause of the events to be directly related to hand held GPS that was wired and mounted in the panel during annual.
A C210 pilot detected a burnt plastic odor and a small amount of white smoke; so he returned to his departure airport where he discovered a failed portable GPS receiver which was wired into the aircraft electrical system.