Beechjet 400
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70.6; Flight Crew Total 1136; Flight Crew Type 27.7
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted
Aircraft; Human Factors
After having Maintenance performed; departed on IFR flight plan. On climbout RH pitot heat fail annunciated. Climbing through 8000 ft Second in Command (SIC)/Pilot Flying (PF) noted hot; burning smell. After brief discussion crew noted smoke visible in beam of light from passenger reading lamp in cabin. Smoke was acrid in odor; whitish/light grey and similar in density to cigarette smoke in appearance; and caused no burning sensation or vision issues. Crew stopped climb at 14;000 ft. SIC/PF donned oxygen mask and Pilot in Command (PIC)/Pilot Not Flying (PNF) investigated cabin for approximately 45 seconds for source of smoke. PIC/PNF could not isolate source of smoke and returned to flight deck. Crew elected to return to [departure airport].PIC took over PF duties; [advised ATC]; and initiated descent to 9000 ft. SIC calculated landing performance and worked checklist. Descending through 12000 ft bleeds were selected OFF. Smoke seemed to dissipate as descent continued.ATC approach coordinated support to meet crew at ZZZ; and crew performed an uneventful visual approach.The following morning; cause of smoke was determined to be cabin temperature control set to Manual/full increase by maintenance crew. RH Pitot heat Circuit Breaker (CB) was found tripped and was reset. Maintenance check flight was uneventful and airplane was returned to service.
BE400 First Officer reported smoke in the cabin that resulted in a return to the departure airport.