Date: 201911
Aircraft: Challenger 650
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Prior to departure a rattling noise from the galley area was reported by the Flight Attendant to the both pilots. I investigated and it appeared to be the galley equipment fans causing a loose counter top or the drawers to vibrate. Maintenance had been working on several items in that area the previous night and I assumed they had not fully secured some portion of the counter top or drawer. There were still several items deferred in that area such as galley lights and a counter top edge that was torn off. The noise was not audible in the cockpit on the ground. During flight the rattling noise became much louder to the point it was noticeable in the cockpit with noise reducing headsets on. I asked the Flight Attendant to place her hand on the drawers and counter top to see if that would reduce the noise; but there was no effect. Both pilots then became concerned this was something other than a loose counter top or drawers and suspected a component of the chiller. The pilot flying Captain left the flight deck to investigate and turned off the chiller. However; the noise continued. The Captain returned to the flight deck and we began to consider ways to mitigate the noise. I immediately suggested shutting off the AC/DC utility bus as he reviewed the QRC and I reviewed the QRH. There was no guidance for such a condition. The closest guidance was the Galley Overheat QRC but that CAS message was not illuminated. As we continued to review the problem the Flight Attendant reported odor emanating from the galley area. I also smelled the odor and I believe the Captain did as well. At that point we shut of the AC/DC utility bus and the noise stopped immediately and the odor disappeared. We consulted FOM 3.X.XX regarding odor and both flight crew members believed there was no fire or health hazard. Per the guidance of 3.X.XX the PIC elected to continue to the destination with the AC/DC utility bus off which I concurred. I reported the issue to the passengers who were none the wiser regarding the situation. Upon landing both flight crew members concurred the item should be considered an AOG (Aircraft on Ground) item because the source of the odor could not be positively identified. When the Captain reported the issue to Maintenance the Maintenance Coordinator gave full concurrence to noting the item as an AOG item when the Captain mentioned there had been odor emanating from the area. Moreover; the Maintenance Coordinator apparently placed a Director of Maintenance Operations hold on the aircraft before it could be released. The Maintenance corrective action indicated that two fan blades had broken off the food chiller that were causing the vibration noise. Post flight a review of the situation indicated QRH 14-7 Smoke/Fumes/Fire may have been applicable. However; I did not believe the issue had risen to Smoke/Fumes/Fire.  I suggest a fleet wide review of chiller fan blades to see if there is a systemic issue. However; the issue may have been caused by the Maintenance actions in that area prior to flight or some other unknown reason.




Synopsis: Flight Crew flying CL-650 aircraft encountered component fumes/odor issue inflight.