Date: 201401
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737-300
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Recirculation Fan
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Other / Unknown
Second reporter function: Captain
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: After departure; at approximately 5;000 FT; [I] selected full power. Seconds later; I heard 'B' Flight Attendant call 'A' and report smoke in cabin and lavatory fire alarm on. (I was monitoring service interphone.) I got online and told them to stay on and report any change and I would be listening. I then told First Officer the situation and asked him to tell ATC; we were returning and declaring an emergency. Then; I assumed the radio; and we did boxed QRH items and he began to run QRH; while I placed aircraft on autopilot and used radios. We performed most all items; and as we got to recirculation (recirc) fan off; 'B' Flight Attendant reported smoke dissipating. I then directed First Officer to help me prepare for landing. He pointed out it would be an overweight landing by about 700 LBS. That was noted and later entered into logbook. Approach and landing were uneventful and ARFF followed us to gate. I then asked passengers to remain seated and allow ARFF to use IR detector to check for hot spots. None were found; and they went to cargo and exterior to check there; and we deplaned passengers. Fortunately; a maintenance crew was there to work on another aircraft and was able to work [our] problem. They discovered one disconnected duct and another unwrapped duct. They also MEL'd recirc fan; and swapped out lavatory fire detection units; which leads to another report concerning the next flight.


Second narrative: As per prior report; aircraft had previous smoke in cabin occur at same location in flight. Once again; declared emergency; performed QRH boxed items; pilot flying took radios while pilot not flying did QRH Checklist. Returned to final and landed uneventfully. My big issue is how I failed as a Captain; and onsite Supervisor to assist the flight attendants and agents with the passengers; due to the constant queries from: Dispatch; Maintenance Control (even though there were Company Mechanics) including an Inspector present; Scheduling; Chief Pilot on Duty; Station Manager. I was busy repeating over and over what had happened while the different entities checked there boxes off on what to ask. My favorite; 'Did you do the QRH?' Is this the time to ask such a thing? I felt I needed to answer the queries because I assumed that was the right thing to do. But; we had at least 20 mentally-challenged adults on board; was I really doing the right thing by being on the phone instead of helping; answering questions and allaying fears?Flight Operations needs to rethink information gathering procedures and allow time for on-site personnel; flight attendants; [ground] operations; and pilots to complete their responsibilities.


Synopsis: B737-300 Captain is informed of smoke in the cabin by a Flight Attendant during initial climb after takeoff. The QRH is complied with; and emergency is declared and the flight returns to the departure airport. After maintenance action is performed the flight departs a second time and the scenario repeats in its entirety.