Enroute controller described an emergency event that resulted in an uncoordinated airspace entry eve...

Narrative:

I was working the radar at multiple sectors due to low traffic and low complexity. There was no d-side for the same reasons. Below our sectors are approach control's with a shelf splitting the two. A B737 was en route at FL350. The B737 was pvd'd onto my screen from sector 38. Sector 38 called and reported that the B737 had a rapid pressure loss and was descending at an accelerated rate. I accepted radar contact with the B737 descending rapidly. I called to coordinate a point out to approach and future handoff; with the code and that the aircraft was an emergency and would be entering their airspace descending rapidly. I asked the B737 to report altitude; 120 was reported. I then called and asked approach for lower to 080. An altitude was never available from host on the aircraft. The aircraft may have entered approach's airspace during coordination; however I could not tell as no altitude was shown in the data block due to the rapid descent. I observed no aircraft in TRACON's airspace during the event. The plane leveled and reported at 080 and approach accepted a handoff. I attempted to find the pilot's intentions but was asked to stand by. I transferred communications and the plane landed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described an emergency event that resulted in an uncoordinated airspace entry event due to an emergency descent due to pressurization problems.

Narrative: I was working the RADAR at Multiple Sectors due to low traffic and low complexity. There was no D-Side for the same reasons. Below our sectors are Approach Control's with a shelf splitting the two. A B737 was en route at FL350. The B737 was PVD'd onto my screen from Sector 38. Sector 38 called and reported that the B737 had a rapid pressure loss and was descending at an accelerated rate. I accepted RADAR contact with the B737 descending rapidly. I called to coordinate a point out to Approach and future handoff; with the code and that the aircraft was an emergency and would be entering their airspace descending rapidly. I asked the B737 to report altitude; 120 was reported. I then called and asked approach for lower to 080. An altitude was never available from HOST on the aircraft. The aircraft may have entered Approach's airspace during coordination; however I could not tell as no altitude was shown in the data block due to the rapid descent. I observed no aircraft in TRACON's airspace during the event. The plane leveled and reported at 080 and Approach accepted a handoff. I attempted to find the pilot's intentions but was asked to stand by. I transferred communications and the plane landed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1034916
Time
Date	201209
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 248 Flight Crew Type 10000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Airspace Violation All Types

Enroute controller described an emergency event that resulted in an uncoordinated airspace entry event due to an emergency descent due to pressurization problems.