A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other; 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; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
In the climb out the crew became aware of an oily smell in the cabin that did not dissipate but got stronger. Confirmed by the flight attendants and both pilots; we returned to the departure airport for landing and passenger removal. The pilots used our oxygen mask once the smell was identified and started the APU selecting it to supply the bleed air for the air conditioning packs to help vent the cabin while returning to land. After landing taxi to the gate to deplane passengers with out any injuries; smelled as if oil was being vaporized in the air that we were breathing.
The Reporter stated that he immediately started the APU so that its bleed air would supply the cabin and cut out the engine bleed air. He refused to ferry the aircraft to a maintenance base after finding out the borescope inspection located a bent compressor section blade which caused a slight shaft wobble allowing oil to enter the bleed system. The CFM 56 engine was ultimately changed.
Climbing through 8;000 we had a strong smell similar to diesel bus exhaust. We donned our oxygen masks and declared an emergency. We returned to the departure airport with an uneventful landing.
An A319 crew detected a diesel bus exhaust odor as thrust was reduced for a climb constraint so they went on oxygen immediately; declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport where a CFM56 bent compressor section blade was found which caused a slight shaft wobble.