Super MD80 develops a leak in the window frame over the captain's sliding window.

Attributes
ACN	351254
Time
Date	199610
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : san
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	351254
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying at FL260 the captain's sliding developed an air leak above the window, on the upper right hand side. Cabin altitude was 7400 ft. Difference was 7.8. Ftw dispatch and tul technician were notified for technical assist. The crack was in the airframe itself above the window and measured approximately 1 inch in length and 1/8 inch wide. Air was leaking through the crack and the moon was visible through the crack. Technician advised us to descend to bring down the cabin difference to 4.4 pounds or less. We advised ATC of our problem, requested direct to san with MEA considerations. Ftw dispatch advised san ATC for us, and we descended to 10000 ft for the remainder of the flight. We landed in san with no additional problems, placed item in the E-6 log and briefed maintenance personnel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SUPER MD80 DEVELOPS A LEAK IN THE WINDOW FRAME OVER THE CAPT'S SLIDING WINDOW.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING AT FL260 THE CAPT'S SLIDING DEVELOPED AN AIR LEAK ABOVE THE WINDOW, ON THE UPPER R HAND SIDE. CABIN ALT WAS 7400 FT. DIFFERENCE WAS 7.8. FTW DISPATCH AND TUL TECHNICIAN WERE NOTIFIED FOR TECHNICAL ASSIST. THE CRACK WAS IN THE AIRFRAME ITSELF ABOVE THE WINDOW AND MEASURED APPROX 1 INCH IN LENGTH AND 1/8 INCH WIDE. AIR WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE CRACK AND THE MOON WAS VISIBLE THROUGH THE CRACK. TECHNICIAN ADVISED US TO DSND TO BRING DOWN THE CABIN DIFFERENCE TO 4.4 LBS OR LESS. WE ADVISED ATC OF OUR PROB, REQUESTED DIRECT TO SAN WITH MEA CONSIDERATIONS. FTW DISPATCH ADVISED SAN ATC FOR US, AND WE DSNDED TO 10000 FT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. WE LANDED IN SAN WITH NO ADDITIONAL PROBS, PLACED ITEM IN THE E-6 LOG AND BRIEFED MAINT PERSONNEL.

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.