B737-300 flight crew is unable to pressurize aircraft. One pack is MEL'ed inoperative. Return land.

Attributes
ACN	336142
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	336142
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cabin would not pressurize on takeoff until leveling at 6000 ft. Elected to return to field due to one pack already MEL'ed inoperative and problems pressurizing aircraft. On previous leg we had difficulty pressurizing and had logged discrepancy at dca. Maintenance, without any troubleshooting 'threw a box at it' and signed it off. Prior to departure I expressed my concern over their method of doing business. In my opinion, this method is inappropriate. I believe this was a primary example of schedule pressure from management to 'move the metal/clear the log.' given that there were two interrelated problems (pack inoperative on MEL/pressurization problem) there was insufficient margin remaining to prevent the problem and the need to return to the field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLC IS UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE ACFT. ONE PACK IS MEL'ED INOP. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: CABIN WOULD NOT PRESSURIZE ON TKOF UNTIL LEVELING AT 6000 FT. ELECTED TO RETURN TO FIELD DUE TO ONE PACK ALREADY MEL'ED INOP AND PROBS PRESSURIZING ACFT. ON PREVIOUS LEG WE HAD DIFFICULTY PRESSURIZING AND HAD LOGGED DISCREPANCY AT DCA. MAINT, WITHOUT ANY TROUBLESHOOTING 'THREW A BOX AT IT' AND SIGNED IT OFF. PRIOR TO DEP I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN OVER THEIR METHOD OF DOING BUSINESS. IN MY OPINION, THIS METHOD IS INAPPROPRIATE. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A PRIMARY EXAMPLE OF SCHEDULE PRESSURE FROM MGMNT TO 'MOVE THE METAL/CLR THE LOG.' GIVEN THAT THERE WERE TWO INTERRELATED PROBS (PACK INOP ON MEL/PRESSURIZATION PROB) THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT MARGIN REMAINING TO PREVENT THE PROB AND THE NEED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD.

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.