A B737-700 left bleed tripped four times climbing to FL380 and the pack was turned off. Shortly ther...

Narrative:

Climbing 36;000 ft [the] left bleed tripped off. 36;500 ft [we attempted a] trip reset per QRH. 37;000 ft [we resumed] normal operation. 38;000 ft left bleed trip off [and] trip reset per QRH. 38;000 ft [we resumed] normal operation. 38;000 ft left bleed trip off [and] trip reset per QRH. 38;000 ft light still illuminated. 38;000 ft left pack off per QRH. 38;000 ft right pack tripped off. 38;000 ft trip reset per QRH. 38;000 ft [again we resumed] normal operation. During this time frame; the captain and I had and were discussing diversions; which airports were the closest suitable; and our comfort level with the issue that was taking place. 38;000 ft left bleed trip off. 38;000 ft started descent. 37;000 ft right pack trip off. 36;500 ft trip reset per QRH. 36;000 ft began emergency descent. [We] diverted to (the closest suitable airport considering our descent rate). 24;000 ft cabin altitude exceeded 14;000 ft. At 10;000 ft vectored to final for the runway. Landed uneventfully and proceeded to the gate. Through communicating with the flight attendants on the flight; we did know that the passenger oxygen masks had in fact deployed and that a pob was used. The crew was met at the gate by station maintenance; which took over the aircraft. It does not state in the QRH anything about starting a descent with the bleed trip off after turning the associated pack off. Maybe it should!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 left bleed tripped four times climbing to FL380 and the pack was turned OFF. Shortly thereafter the right bleed tripped several times and finally with both bleeds OFF an emergency was declared and the flight diverted but not before the cabin exceeded 14;000 FT causing the masks to drop.

Narrative: Climbing 36;000 FT [the] left bleed tripped off. 36;500 FT [we attempted a] trip reset per QRH. 37;000 FT [we resumed] normal operation. 38;000 FT left bleed trip off [and] trip reset per QRH. 38;000 FT [we resumed] normal operation. 38;000 FT left bleed trip off [and] trip reset per QRH. 38;000 FT light still illuminated. 38;000 FT left pack off per QRH. 38;000 FT right pack tripped off. 38;000 FT trip reset per QRH. 38;000 FT [again we resumed] normal operation. During this time frame; the Captain and I had and were discussing diversions; which airports were the closest suitable; and our comfort level with the issue that was taking place. 38;000 FT left bleed trip off. 38;000 FT started descent. 37;000 FT right pack trip off. 36;500 FT trip reset per QRH. 36;000 FT began emergency descent. [We] diverted to (the closest suitable airport considering our descent rate). 24;000 FT cabin altitude exceeded 14;000 FT. At 10;000 FT vectored to final for the runway. Landed uneventfully and proceeded to the gate. Through communicating with the flight attendants on the flight; we did know that the passenger oxygen masks had in fact deployed and that a POB was used. The crew was met at the gate by Station Maintenance; which took over the aircraft. It does not state in the QRH anything about starting a descent with the bleed trip off after turning the associated pack off. Maybe it should!

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	1091680
Time
Date	201305
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Pneumatic Valve/Bleed Valve
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 225
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown

A B737-700 left bleed tripped four times climbing to FL380 and the pack was turned off. Shortly thereafter the right bleed tripped several times and finally with both bleeds off an emergency was declared and the flight diverted but not before the cabin exceeded 14;000 ft causing the masks to drop.