Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
During climb; while conducting the anti-ice test; the crew noticed a burning odor; consistent with an electrical smell. The Flight Attendant reported the smell concentrated toward the front of the aircraft. After waiting a few minutes; the odor persisted; so the decision was made to [notify ATC] and divert to ZZZ. No visible smoke was detected. Identification: crew detection. Cause: possible electrical abnormality with the windshield heat. After landing; a review of the maintenance logbook showed that the aircraft had been written up for the same issue approximately 3 weeks earlier with no fault found by Maintenance. Response: [notified ATC]; aircraft diverted; Dispatch and Maintenance notified. Suggestion: according to the maintenance logbook; after the previous smoke event; there was no action other than a functional check. I would think it prudent to visually inspect the item in question to check for evidence of burning.
Upon reaching FL180 I executed the climb checklist. As this was the first flight of the day we conducted the Ice Protection Test per the checklist. Almost immediately after starting the test we observed a strong smell of electrical components overheating. While I believed the source of the odor was a result of the anti-ice system I was not sure. I called the flight Attendant who immediately indicated that she smelled it. I instructed her to walk through the cabin and see if she could pinpoint the odor. When she returned to phone she mentioned that it was coming from the front. By this point the smell had not gotten worse; but it hadn't necessarily gotten better; so we elected to divert. We never saw actual smoke and after discussing it the FO and I elected not to don mask with the thought that if it grew worse we would. We divided task and prepared the aircraft for arrival. We landed without incident and had ARFF confirm there was no visible fire before proceeding to the gate.
EMB-145 flight crew reported cabin crew advised of electrical burning smell in forward cabin area during climbout. Flight crew elected to divert.