# SDR AALA202609180655

- Type: Service difficulty report (as reported; unverified)
- Difficulty date: September 17, 2026
- Submitted: September 18, 2026
- Operation: Air carrier
- Aircraft: [N657AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N657AW), registered now
- Make and model: Airbus A320-232
- Registry model: [Airbus A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-232) (OpenAirDocs)
- Aircraft serial: 1083
- Aircraft time: 85,838 hours, 36,142 cycles
- System (JASC): [4990 · APU Oil System](https://openairdocs.org/jasc/4990)
- Part: Oil System
- Condition: Leaking
- Location: Zone 100
- Stage of operation: CL
- How discovered: O
- Nature of condition: K, B
- Precautionary procedure: A
- FAA source: FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System (https://sdrs.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/sdr/AALA202609180655

## Discrepancy

AIRCRAFT WAS GROUNDED: AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND TRHGE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO PHL DUE TO THE FLIGHT CREW REPORTING THAT AN ODOR WAS PRESENT IN THE AFT CABIN INITIALLY AFTER ENGINE START BUT QUICKLY DISSIPATED HOWEVER AFTER TAKE OFF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS REPORTED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY THE FIRST MINUTE OF FLIGHT THE ODOR RETURNED - THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS DESCRIBED THE ODOR AS A FAINT PLASTIC" SMELL - THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AT PHL WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT - MAINTENANCE REPORTED THAT THE APU IS CURRENTLY ON MEL AND SUSPECT THAT IT MAY BE THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR    (OPEN)

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.