What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 14, 2019 at 5:50 pm EDT, psa airlines, inc. flight 5148 (N522AE) pushed back off gate 44C at Reagan national airport (dca). During push back the crew was cleared to start the #2 engine. After engine start a flight attendant contacted the captain stating there was smoke in the cabin. The captain had the first officer (fo) visually confirm and he noticed smoke in the cabin along with an electrical burning smell. At that time the captain authorized evacuation of the aircraft through the main cabin door (mcd). The crew ran the evacuation checklist iaw the quick reference handbook (qrh) and informed ATC. While passengers were instructed to exit the mcd, several passengers opened the over-wing emergency exits and passengers exited the aircraft utilizing all three exits. All passengers were gathered on the ramp, accounted for, and taken to a conference room in the terminal. Three passengers requested evaluation from medical personnel, however declined further medical attention. No injuries reported. A small dent and puncture in the right wing was reported from the overwing emergency exit door being thrown by a passenger. The cause of the smoke is believed to be caused by a faulty air cycle machine. A service difficulty report has been filed.
NTSB eastern region was contacted by the investigating inspector on 11/14/2019 and no incident number will be issued for this event.
Reviewed 11/15/2019 bwe
Reviewed 05/13/2020 bwe
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 14, 2019 AT 5:50 PM EDT, PSA AIRLINES, INC. FLIGHT 5148 (N522AE) PUSHED BACK OFF GATE 44C AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT (DCA). DURING PUSH BACK THE CREW WAS CLEARED TO START THE #2 ENGINE. AFTER ENGINE START A FLIGHT ATTENDANT CONTACTED THE CAPTAIN STATING THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN. THE CAPTAIN HAD THE FIRST OFFICER (FO) VISUALLY CONFIRM AND HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE CABIN ALONG WITH AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AT THAT TIME THE CAPTAIN AUTHORIZED EVACUATION OF THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE MAIN CABIN DOOR (MCD). THE CREW RAN THE EVACUATION CHECKLIST IAW THE QUICK REFERENCE HANDBOOK (QRH) AND INFORMED ATC. WHILE PASSENGERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO EXIT THE MCD, SEVERAL PASSENGERS OPENED THE OVER-WING EMERGENCY EXITS AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UTILIZING ALL THREE EXITS. ALL PASSENGERS WERE GATHERED ON THE RAMP, ACCOUNTED FOR, AND TAKEN TO A CONFERENCE ROOM IN THE TERMINAL. THREE PASSENGERS REQUESTED EVALUATION FROM MEDICAL PERSONNEL, HOWEVER DECLINED FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION. NO INJURIES REPORTED. A SMALL DENT AND PUNCTURE IN THE RIGHT WING WAS REPORTED FROM THE OVERWING EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR BEING THROWN BY A PASSENGER. THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE IS BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY AIR CYCLE MACHINE. A SERVICE DIFFICULTY REPORT HAS BEEN FILED.
NTSB EASTERN REGION WAS CONTACTED BY THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR ON 11/14/2019 AND NO INCIDENT NUMBER WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT.
REVIEWED 11/15/2019 BWE
REVIEWED 05/13/2020 BWE