Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Evacuated
Aircraft; Procedure
Normal takeoff off climbing out [of] 5;000 FT. Smoke smell on flight deck. Performed memory items and declared emergency requesting immediate return. Flight Attendant confirmed haze and smoke smell in cabin. An overweight landing to a full stop [ensued]. CFR inspected aircraft no fire found. Aircraft towed to gate. Potential fire and smelled smoke. Aircraft are aging and with that potential problems are bound to happen. Increased maintenance vigilance on fleet type.
Aircraft was undergoing oil checks by Maintenance at the maintenance hangar prior to boarding but no documentation provided for reason aircraft was under the control of Maintenance. The Cabin CD Player was inoperative (chronically noted as inoperative multiple times and signed off multiple times). Engine one oil level showed 9 quarts and I asked Maintenance why no oil was added when minimum oil level for dispatching is 8 quarts. Maintenance said it was within limits and no need to add oil. On taxi; Captain headset cut out multiple times resulting in having to change headsets prior to takeoff. In the climbout prior to smoke event; Captain headset again cut out momentarily. Headset cutting out was noted previously in logbook and signed off by Maintenance as ops check good. Normal takeoff configuration with engine bleeds on and packs on with ALT T/O thrust. Climbing around 5;000 FT strong burning smell noticed in cockpit; unknown origin. Smoke goggles/crew oxygen masks on. Flight Attendant called to warn of strong burning smell and smoky haze in cabin. Emergency declared. Landed overweight. CFR approached aircraft. Emergency Evacuation checklist initiated; main and service doors opened; and evidence of smoke dissipated. Maintenance towed aircraft to a gate. Passengers deplaned and reported no injuries. I am unable to determine where the burning smell came from and why this event happened on a scheduled passenger jet. Aircraft was undergoing oil checks by Maintenance prior to boarding but no documentation provided for reason aircraft was under the control of Maintenance. Chronic maintenance corrective action is 'unable to duplicate and ops check good.' I would suggest that a scheduled passenger airline; who owes its passengers the highest duty of care; look into the volumes of references available to them by the manufacturers instead of hoping the problem is not encountered again. Pilots are already telling Maintenance there IS a discrepancy. Change out the component or delve further into the problem to fix it.
EMB145 flight crew detects smoke climbing out of 5;000 feet which is also reported by the Flight Attendant. An overweight landing ensues and the passengers are evacuated. No smoke source is found.