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An MD80 loses cabin pressure while climbing through FL290. They return to pit after having to descend for a climbing cabin.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 440938 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199906 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : hvq.vor |
| State Reference | WV |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zid.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 29000 flight time type : 4000 |
| ASRS Report | 440938 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
The flight had been routine until we reached the top of the climb. As we passed FL290 for FL310, the first officer noted the cabin differential pressure was lower than normal, the cabin altitude was at 9000 ft and climbing at 300-500 FPM. Per QRH procedures, we switched to the standby controller. The cabin continued to climb. We selected the cabin altitude control lever to normal and closed the outflow valve but the cabin continued to climb. In an attempt to prevent the cabin from exceeding 10000 ft, we initiated a descent. When the cabin altitude exceeded 10000 ft, we accomplished the 'excessive cabin altitude' procedure in the QRH, declared an emergency and returned to pit. While one is busily draining the swamp and suddenly realizes he has been surrounded by hungry alligators, it is wonderful to know that help is at hand. In this case the help was in the form of a well trained first officer, and cabin staff and the QRH. As a result, this situation was terminated smoothly.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 LOSES CABIN PRESSURE WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL290. THEY RETURN TO PIT AFTER HAVING TO DSND FOR A CLBING CABIN.
Narrative: THE FLT HAD BEEN ROUTINE UNTIL WE REACHED THE TOP OF THE CLB. AS WE PASSED FL290 FOR FL310, THE FO NOTED THE CABIN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL, THE CABIN ALT WAS AT 9000 FT AND CLBING AT 300-500 FPM. PER QRH PROCS, WE SWITCHED TO THE STANDBY CTLR. THE CABIN CONTINUED TO CLB. WE SELECTED THE CABIN ALT CTL LEVER TO NORMAL AND CLOSED THE OUTFLOW VALVE BUT THE CABIN CONTINUED TO CLB. IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT THE CABIN FROM EXCEEDING 10000 FT, WE INITIATED A DSCNT. WHEN THE CABIN ALT EXCEEDED 10000 FT, WE ACCOMPLISHED THE 'EXCESSIVE CABIN ALT' PROC IN THE QRH, DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO PIT. WHILE ONE IS BUSILY DRAINING THE SWAMP AND SUDDENLY REALIZES HE HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY HUNGRY ALLIGATORS, IT IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT HELP IS AT HAND. IN THIS CASE THE HELP WAS IN THE FORM OF A WELL TRAINED FO, AND CABIN STAFF AND THE QRH. AS A RESULT, THIS SIT WAS TERMINATED SMOOTHLY.
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.