A330
Other Private Pilot
Physiological - Other
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
This report is from a single passenger who holds two engineering degrees and a single engine FAA pilot license. As the engines spooled up for takeoff; the rear cabin contained a funny smell. It was definitely not Jet-A fuel from the previous planes to take-off on the active runway; but something that smelled more metallic; such as when a capacitor out-gasses electrolytic fluid. The smell was faintly detected after the main doors were closed and during taxi and became very strong right as engines spooled up on the active runway for takeoff. It was a fairly offensive smell; so much so that I attempted to breathe through my shirt. As a passenger; I am not allowed to get up or move from my seat and had to endure breathing whatever fumes were present.The effects were tingling in the extremities; a metallic taste; and I felt light headed as if I was going to pass out. I also felt slightly disoriented and dizzy. About three minutes into the flight I could taste a very pronounced metallic taste in the back of my mouth. Looking around at the fellow passengers in my section at this time to see if they were also affected; approximately the ten closest passengers to me; including one small child; all had their heads back and were either sleeping or passed out during the incident. The air eventually cleared about ten minutes into the flight and when I was allowed to get up to use the lavatory; I had to grip the chairs along the aisle to steady myself. The strong metallic taste remained at the back of my tongue for several hours after this incident.Upon [exiting] the aircraft at the gate exit; I notified the captain and co-captain and mentioned the metallic smell at the back of the plane. One responded that sometimes happens on older planes and they would mention it to maintenance to check out.It has been two weeks since this flight and I still have a light metallic taste in my mouth that has not completely gone away. I am reporting this as an injury; as all symptoms have not gone away since the event.
Private pilot flying as a passenger in an Airbus 330 reports detecting a metallic smell prior to takeoff. He reported this to the crew and continued to experience a slight metallic taste for two weeks after the flight.