Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
I was the pilot flying and my First Officer was the Pilot Monitoring. We departed with normal procedures and call-outs. At 400 feet I; as Pilot Flying; commanded 'Heading Mode'. At approximately 700 feet I was alerted to a Master Caution light and a LAV SMOKE DET annunciation. I was able to hear the lavatory smoke detector and was then promptly contacted by the flight attendants regarding the alarm. Passing 1000 feet I called for 'Flaps Up. Climb Power. VNAV.' Once this was accomplished; I stated that I had the aircraft and radios and asked my First Officer to Run the QRH for LAV SMOKE DET annunciator. I requested a return to the airfield.The First officer completed the QRH procedure and the Return Checklist while we were on a left downwind leg for a visual approach. I contacted the Tower and was cleared for landing. At some point on final approach; the LAV SMOKE DET annunciator went out and the audible alarm coming from the lavatory ceased. All crew members in both the cabin and cockpit smelled the smoke during the [event].We confirmed that we were below our landing weight limitation and then I called for the gear to be lowered and the Landing Check accomplished. We landed without incident and taxied clear. We deplaned normally and had the fire department inspect the lavatory specifically and the rest of the aircraft generally. Flight attendants informed me that they saw a haze of smoke during the LAVATORY SMOKE DET. The last time I flew this aircraft I had a slightly dissimilar smoke in the cabin event. My previous event occurred 15 days ago. And another cabin smoke event occurred 5 days prior to that.
MD80 Captain experienced a master caution light and a LAV SMOKE annunciation at 700 feet on departure. A return to the field was requested while the First Officer performed the QRH procedures. At some point during the approach the LAV SMOKE DET annunciator went out and the smoke began to dissipate. The reporter indicated that he experienced a similar event 15 days prior in the same aircraft and another event 5 days prior to that.