B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 178; Flight Crew Type 1714
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Procedure
Smoke and fumes entered the flight deck during the takeoff roll from BOS in snow and fog conditions. Due to runway condition; airport weather/visibility and aircraft speed aborting the takeoff was not a viable option. Initial indications of haze and smell began just prior to 100 KIAS and increased to near zero visibility near V1 and Vr speeds. At approximately 1500 FT AGL the smoke began to clear and did not return. After takeoff I contacted the flight attendants and was informed that no adverse condition existed in the cabin. The flight continued to destination. Prior to departure we had been de-iced/anti-iced; we had restarted the APU for a Bleeds Off takeoff. We followed all QRH and Normal checklists for the De-ice/anti-ice procedures and performed the static engine run-up as required; no anomalies were noted. I strongly suspect de-ice fluid entered the APU bleed air/pack system but I am at a loss as to how or why. First Officer is to be commended for outstanding performance under the circumstances.
0 degrees C; 1/4 mile visibility with snow and fog. We deiced/anti-iced with the APU on and the engines off as directed by 'Iceman'. We complied with the Deice/Anti-Ice checklist and all normal checklists before takeoff. Takeoff was on Rwy 15R with ¼' wet snow on the runway as reported by tower. An aircraft that had just landed on 4R reported the braking action as 'Fair'.Takeoff was made using 15 degrees of flaps and bleeds off as directed by the Takeoff Data. During takeoff; at approximately 100 Knots; a small amount of smoke/fumes began to enter the cockpit through the air vents. I recognized the appearance and odor of the smoke to be from the deicing/anti-icing fluid since I had experienced this in the past. This was expected and the QRH cautions that this can happen when performing a Bleeds OFF takeoff after being deiced. However as the airspeed increased closer to V1; the smoke increased heavily to the point that visibility in the cockpit was almost zero. By the time that we recognized how bad the visibility was becoming; rejecting was not a good option because we were at V1 and we were concerned about departing the end of the runway if we rejected. I continued the takeoff by leaning forward to move my eyes closer to the instrument panel so that I could see the displays. I rotated and climbed away from the ground using instruments because visibility through the windows was zero. After climbing away from the ground and raising the landing gear; I removed the oxygen mask/goggles and was about to don them when I noticed that the smoke was slowly starting to dissipate. The smoke continued to go away and by the time that we reached approximately 1500 FT AGL; the smoke was completely gone. The remainder of the flight to the intended destination was uneventful.
B737 flight crew reported that on takeoff roll following ground de-icing they experienced near-zero visibility in the cockpit due to smoke and/or fumes introduced through the air vents; presumably related to the ground de-icing.