De-Ice Fluid Smoke

[pelmet]

From TSB...

C-FANB, an Air North Charter and Training Limited Boeing 737-400, was conducting flight ANT721
from Edmonton International Airport (CYEG), AB, to Whitehorse/Erik Nielsen International Airport
(CYXY), YT. On a previous flight the Constant Speed Drive (CSD) disconnected and the APU was
required on subsequent flights for electrical power. During deicing at CYEG, deicing fluid was
inadvertently sprayed into the APU inlet. The crew did not observe any abnormalities or unusual
indications and continued to taxi to the runway after deicing was completed. The aircraft departed
with the APU bleed air on and the engine bleed air off. During the initial climb the cockpit and cabin
began to fill with smoke. The flight crew detected the smell of deice fluid within the cabin. The
aircraft was reconfigured to use engine bleed air, and the smoke began to dissipate. The flight
crew communicated with the lead flight attendant and made several passenger announcements to
explain the situation to the passengers. The flight crew contacted ATC and continued to perform
the quick reference checklist items. Once the smoke had cleared, the aircraft continued to CYXY
without further incident.
After landing at CYXY, company maintenance personnel found visual indications of glycol
ingestion in the APU inlet and an SMS was filed to help prevent re-occurrence.


Seems to me that it is best to avoid APU bleed air after de-icing. The inlet is close to the horizontal stab.