B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft
Aircraft arrived at the gate after having been transported from the maintenance hangar. Upon the crew's arrival on aircraft every crewmember commented on an acrid electrical like smell near the L1/R1 doors. I called Maintenance about the smell. Maintenance investigated; and found nothing. After passengers enplaned the aircraft; during pushback; flight attendants in forward cabin contacted the flight crew about an increasing electrical smell. We returned to gate under aircraft power after coordinating with Maintenance; and Operations. Cabin crew complained of feeling ill from the effects of an acrid; electrical-like smell.
The Reporter stated that he; the First Officer and two flight attendants made comments about the odor during preflight but all agreed it was subtle and intermittent. During pushback the odor became so strong that the forward flight attendants were affected physically so the aircraft was returned to the gate; where upon opening the door; three mechanics also smelled the odor. The two forward flight attendants removed themselves from the trip because of the physical effects from the odor. The Reporter stated that the smell was similar to when he soldered electrical components which produced a combination of an odd odor and heated wires. The aircraft was removed from service but the Reporter does no know what the maintenance findings were.
A B737-700 returned to the gate during taxi after flight attendants reported a repeat detection of a strong electrical smell near the L1/R1 doors.