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A B737-500 flight crew suffered a pressurization failure; initiated an emergency descent and; when level at 10;000 feet with adequate fuel reserves; elected to continue to their destination rather than divert.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1078144 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201304 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-500 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Pressurization System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 260 Flight Crew Type 8000 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | First Officer |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 189 Flight Crew Type 4000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
While in cruise at FL360 the cabin altitude warning horn sounded as cabin altitude climbed through 10;000 feet. We accomplished the applicable checklists but were unable to control the cabin pressure. We initiated an emergency descent and told the flight attendants to sit down and expect the oxygen masks to deploy; which they did automatically at approximately 15;000 feet cabin altitude. We declared an emergency and descended to 10;000 feet. We then considered diverting to msy; which was 120 NM behind us but the reported weather was +tsra; so we decided to continue to our planned destination. We had plenty of fuel for the lower altitude. We landed at our original destination and were met by emts at the gate.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-500 flight crew suffered a pressurization failure; initiated an emergency descent and; when level at 10;000 feet with adequate fuel reserves; elected to continue to their destination rather than divert.
Narrative: While in cruise at FL360 the Cabin Altitude Warning horn sounded as cabin altitude climbed through 10;000 feet. We accomplished the applicable checklists but were unable to control the cabin pressure. We initiated an emergency descent and told the flight attendants to sit down and expect the oxygen masks to deploy; which they did automatically at approximately 15;000 feet cabin altitude. We declared an emergency and descended to 10;000 feet. We then considered diverting to MSY; which was 120 NM behind us but the reported weather was +TSRA; so we decided to continue to our planned destination. We had plenty of fuel for the lower altitude. We landed at our original destination and were met by EMTs at the gate.
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.