B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 21975; Flight Crew Type 7000
Physiological - Other; Workload; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Evacuated; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
Aircraft evacuated due to smoke; fumes; and mist; from hydraulic system ingested into packs. When we boarded the aircraft; Maintenance advised they had drained hydraulic fluid from over serviced reservoirs. Mechanic came up and I made a log book entry as appropriate and Mechanic signed it off. The First Officer saw major hydraulic fluid on ground during walk around that was being cleaned up and dripping from bottom of hydraulic bay. Mechanics told him they were finishing up. I started APU; turned on right pack; noticed odor; a few minutes later at the same time Flight Attendant came up; fumes and mist and or smoke intensified. I ordered Flight Attendant; immediate passenger evacuate through main cabin door; belongings left behind. APU shut down immediately; advised Company; Maintenance via radio; and called the Duty Manager desk. ARFF was called and at gate within minutes. Maintenance arrived; mist and fumes on flight deck intensified. All passengers and crew evacuated into terminal; no injuries. Logbook entry made. ARFF did check with crew; and all passengers had no complaints or issues. First Officer and I had irritated eyes and burning nose sensation. We told ARFF same; he said it should dissipate. That did stay with us until end of trip. No Company medical clinic at this airport or in main terminal as told to me by the Duty Manager. Flight attendants did an EXCELLENT job with quick evacuation!! We did continue trip 3 hours later with same crew; different aircraft.
A B737 parked at the gate and having just under gone Hydraulic System Maintenance developed a heavy air conditioning mist and odor from hydraulic fluid ingested in the right pack so the Captain ordered an evacuation into the terminal.