Date: 202101
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Aircraft component: Air Conditioning and Pressurization Pack
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: On climbout after takeoff the FO (First Officer) noticed a burning smell. FO asked if I could smell it too and I said yes. We believe we first smelled it on the takeoff roll. I thought it could just be a smell coming from the packs; as they sometimes put off an odor when the heat is turned up. I reached up and adjusted the packs to a hotter setting and the smell increased and was followed by smoke from the vents in the cockpit. I quickly turned both packs to full cold and the smoke stopped. I told the FO to let ATC know we would be leveling at 8;000 feet and we decided to advise ATC and return to the ZZZ airport. We donned our masks and began preparing for our approach. I called the FA (Flight Attendant) and informed her that we had smoke in the cockpit and we were returning to the ZZZ airport. I asked her if there was any smoke or fire indication in the passenger cabin; and she told me that there was not. I informed her that this was a [urgent situation] and that we would be returning to the airport and should be on the ground in about 10-15 minutes. I then messaged to Dispatch letting them know we had smoke in the cockpit and were returning to ZZZ. We sent for landing data and completed our checklists. Before landing I made a quick passenger announcement letting them know the situation was under control and we would be landing soon. We made an uneventful landing and stopped the aircraft short of the gate area to be inspected by ARFF (Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting). ARFF did an inspection and informed us that there was no smoke of fire indications coming from the aircraft exterior. I told them we would be parking at the gate and to meet us there. We deplaned and brought the firefighters onboard to complete their inspection. No further indications of fire were present.The cause of the air return was smoke and fumes in cockpit. Maintenance suspects possible oil in pack.


Second narrative: On takeoff roll I noticed a burning smell but attributed it to an external factor; perhaps a bonfire. There were no indications of any smoke or fire so I waited until the takeoff checklist was complete to ask the CA (Captain) if he had smelled the same thing. He said he did as well and thought it might be a pack. He then turned both cockpit and cabin temperature controls to full hot and almost immediately smoke came from both CA and FO (First Officer) side gaspers. He immediately turned the controls back to full cold and the smoke stopped. We asked ATC to level off at 8;000 feet; once level we advised ATC and let them know we wanted to return to ZZZ. We donned our masks just to be cautious even though the smoke was gone. The CA made sure to call the FA (Flight Attendant); send a message to Dispatch; and talk to the passengers while we headed back to the airport. I helped with getting landing numbers and setting up for the approach. We ran all normal checklists and landed safely back at ZZZ. The fire trucks were ready for us on the ground and we felt comfortable pulling off the runway to have them inspect us for any additional smoke or flames. They cleared us so we continued back to the gate; shut down; ran checklists and deplaned. The fire crew then completed their inspection at the gate and left afterwards.The probable cause of the fume event the smell of fumes followed by smoke coming out of the cockpit vents.


Synopsis: CRJ-200 flight crew and Flight Attendant reported a fumes event during initial climb resulting in a return to the departure airport.