CE560XL flight crew reported executing an emergency descent after loss of cabin pressure at FL410.

Attributes
ACN	1311755
Time
Date	201511
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Citation Excel (C560XL)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Pressurization System
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60 Flight Crew Total 3300 Flight Crew Type 500
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 93 Flight Crew Total 5787 Flight Crew Type 2000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

We departed with zero passengers in VMC. I was the pilot flying (PF). We climbed to our cruising altitude of 41;000 feet with about three ATC level offs on the way up. About one minute after level off we experienced a rapid loss of cabin pressurization. We both noticed the change of pressure first in our ears which drew our attention to the pressurization controller. I saw the cabin rate climbing through 2;000 fpm; as it approached 5;000 fpm I called to put the oxygen masks on (pilot monitoring said he saw the rate get to 7000+ fpm). By the time I had my mask on and secured the master warning along with the cab alt annunciator had illuminated. At this time I executed an emergency descent per the flight safety memory items. Due to hand flying the airplane I did not put my headset back on so I did not hear any of the radio communications between pm and ATC. Pm did verify that we were an emergency aircraft and that we were continuing the descent. To my understanding; the pm did not declare an emergency but said we were in an 'emergency descent'. I did perform cross checks with pm throughout the descent; checking for any physical signs of hypoxia or adverse effects of the depressurization. We leveled off at 11;000 feet per ATC instructions at which time we removed our masks and completed the emergency checklist. We decided; as a crew; that continuing to [destination] was the nearest practical airport to land at. At that point we requested to fly direct at 10;000 feet and completed the flight without issue. Approaching 24 hours since the incident I have not felt any physiological effects of the depressurization.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CE560XL flight crew reported executing an emergency descent after loss of cabin pressure at FL410.

Narrative: We departed with zero passengers in VMC. I was the pilot flying (PF). We climbed to our cruising altitude of 41;000 feet with about three ATC level offs on the way up. About one minute after level off we experienced a rapid loss of cabin pressurization. We both noticed the change of pressure first in our ears which drew our attention to the pressurization controller. I saw the cabin rate climbing through 2;000 fpm; as it approached 5;000 fpm I called to put the oxygen masks on (Pilot Monitoring said he saw the rate get to 7000+ fpm). By the time I had my mask on and secured the Master Warning along with the Cab Alt annunciator had illuminated. At this time I executed an emergency descent per the Flight Safety memory items. Due to hand flying the airplane I did not put my headset back on so I did not hear any of the radio communications between PM and ATC. PM did verify that we were an emergency aircraft and that we were continuing the descent. To my understanding; the PM did not declare an emergency but said we were in an 'emergency descent'. I did perform cross checks with PM throughout the descent; checking for any physical signs of hypoxia or adverse effects of the depressurization. We leveled off at 11;000 feet per ATC instructions at which time we removed our masks and completed the emergency checklist. We decided; as a crew; that continuing to [destination] was the nearest practical airport to land at. At that point we requested to fly direct at 10;000 feet and completed the flight without issue. Approaching 24 hours since the incident I have not felt any physiological effects of the depressurization.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.