Loss of cabin pressurization leads to a rapid descent.

Attributes
ACN	306556
Time
Date	199506
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iow
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	306556
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 3300
ASRS Report	306441
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While climbing through FL270 to FL310 near iow we lost our primary and standby system and cabin went through 10000 ft. The captain advised ATC we were having pressurization problems and were descending. ATC cleared us to 12000 ft. While we were making a rapid descent, I did the QRH procedure and the captain got the cabin under control about FL180. The cabin had gone to 15000 ft, so all masks had dropped and the flight attendants had started their PA. We descended to 14000 ft, got the cabin back to 6000 ft. The captain decided to climb to FL260 and continue the flight using manual pressurization. The remainder of the flight was fine. The captain made a PA as to what had happened. We did not notice the problem until cabin went through 10000 ft. The flow light was not on. We reset the electric pressurization. The blue lights went out but the system never worked again, so we used manual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURIZATION LEADS TO A RAPID DSCNT.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL270 TO FL310 NEAR IOW WE LOST OUR PRIMARY AND STANDBY SYS AND CABIN WENT THROUGH 10000 FT. THE CAPT ADVISED ATC WE WERE HAVING PRESSURIZATION PROBS AND WERE DSNDING. ATC CLRED US TO 12000 FT. WHILE WE WERE MAKING A RAPID DSCNT, I DID THE QRH PROC AND THE CAPT GOT THE CABIN UNDER CTL ABOUT FL180. THE CABIN HAD GONE TO 15000 FT, SO ALL MASKS HAD DROPPED AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS HAD STARTED THEIR PA. WE DSNDED TO 14000 FT, GOT THE CABIN BACK TO 6000 FT. THE CAPT DECIDED TO CLB TO FL260 AND CONTINUE THE FLT USING MANUAL PRESSURIZATION. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS FINE. THE CAPT MADE A PA AS TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED. WE DID NOT NOTICE THE PROB UNTIL CABIN WENT THROUGH 10000 FT. THE FLOW LIGHT WAS NOT ON. WE RESET THE ELECTRIC PRESSURIZATION. THE BLUE LIGHTS WENT OUT BUT THE SYS NEVER WORKED AGAIN, SO WE USED MANUAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.