An air carrier B727 loses some of its pressurization and air conditioning capability and has to desc...

Attributes
ACN	426590
Time
Date	199901
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ilm
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
ASRS Report	426590
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	426802
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other

Narrative:

Passing FL260 we discovered a pressurization problem that could only be controled by descending to FL250 and accomplishing the rapid depressurization checklist. We were able to arrest the cabin pressure at 9000 ft. After computing new fuel over destination with the increased fuel burn at FL250, we decided to divert to rdu. With a live animal in the forward cargo hold and the cargo heat outflow switch closed, we had to descend to a more habitable altitude for the dog. This was due to the outside air temperature being a -37 degrees F. A further descent was required to ensure the animal's survival. We were outside the 50 NM operations specification minimum altitude of FL250 for overwater operations and descended to 11000 ft to get to a warmer temperature. We leveled off at 11000 ft approximately 50 NM offshore. I did not declare an emergency because we were in contact with ZJX the entire time and had coordinated the entire descent with them. Supplemental information from acn 426802: we did not declare an emergency, but later realized we should have. We started a gradual descent to 11000 ft approximately 50 NM offshore. We were in contact with jax entire time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B727 LOSES SOME OF ITS PRESSURIZATION AND AIR CONDITIONING CAPABILITY AND HAS TO DSND TO MAINTAIN A LOWER CABIN ALT AND WARMER TEMP FOR BOTH THE PAX IN THE CABIN AND A DOG IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT.

Narrative: PASSING FL260 WE DISCOVERED A PRESSURIZATION PROB THAT COULD ONLY BE CTLED BY DSNDING TO FL250 AND ACCOMPLISHING THE RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION CHKLIST. WE WERE ABLE TO ARREST THE CABIN PRESSURE AT 9000 FT. AFTER COMPUTING NEW FUEL OVER DEST WITH THE INCREASED FUEL BURN AT FL250, WE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO RDU. WITH A LIVE ANIMAL IN THE FORWARD CARGO HOLD AND THE CARGO HEAT OUTFLOW SWITCH CLOSED, WE HAD TO DSND TO A MORE HABITABLE ALT FOR THE DOG. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP BEING A -37 DEGS F. A FURTHER DSCNT WAS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE ANIMAL'S SURVIVAL. WE WERE OUTSIDE THE 50 NM OPS SPEC MINIMUM ALT OF FL250 FOR OVERWATER OPS AND DSNDED TO 11000 FT TO GET TO A WARMER TEMP. WE LEVELED OFF AT 11000 FT APPROX 50 NM OFFSHORE. I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER BECAUSE WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH ZJX THE ENTIRE TIME AND HAD COORDINATED THE ENTIRE DSCNT WITH THEM. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 426802: WE DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER, BUT LATER REALIZED WE SHOULD HAVE. WE STARTED A GRADUAL DSCNT TO 11000 FT APPROX 50 NM OFFSHORE. WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH JAX ENTIRE TIME.

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.

An air carrier B727 loses some of its pressurization and air conditioning capability and has to descend to maintain a lower cabin altitude and warmer temperature for both the passenger in the cabin and a dog in the baggage compartment.