DA50 loses pressurization and executes emergency descent then returns to departure station.

Attributes
ACN	453493
Time
Date	199910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Falcon 50
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10400 flight time type : 475
ASRS Report	453493
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

At FL190, aircraft X experienced loss of cabin pressure. Captain briefed passenger prior to departure on emergency procedures with emphasis on rapid decompression. Passing FL180 with first officer flying, captain performed FL180 check that included crew mask test, cabin temperature controller check and review of pressurization controller settings and indication. 30 seconds later, cabin warning horn sounded and pressurization dropped. Crew donned masks, placed controller in manual, advised ATC on problem and requested emergency descent. Captain leveled at 10000 ft, secured the checklist and checked crew/passenger for any signs of a physiological incident. None noticed. Crew stayed below 10000 ft and returned to msp without incident. Passenger in debrief reported hearing a hissing noise before the loud bang. Rear passenger reported seeing their breath and cold temperatures after loss of cabin. Maintenance removed faulty controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DA50 LOSES PRESSURIZATION AND EXECUTES EMER DSCNT THEN RETURNS TO DEP STATION.

Narrative: AT FL190, ACFT X EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE. CAPT BRIEFED PAX PRIOR TO DEP ON EMER PROCS WITH EMPHASIS ON RAPID DECOMPRESSION. PASSING FL180 WITH FO FLYING, CAPT PERFORMED FL180 CHK THAT INCLUDED CREW MASK TEST, CABIN TEMP CONTROLLER CHK AND REVIEW OF PRESSURIZATION CONTROLLER SETTINGS AND INDICATION. 30 SECONDS LATER, CABIN WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND PRESSURIZATION DROPPED. CREW DONNED MASKS, PLACED CONTROLLER IN MANUAL, ADVISED ATC ON PROB AND REQUESTED EMER DSCNT. CAPT LEVELED AT 10000 FT, SECURED THE CHKLIST AND CHKED CREW/PAX FOR ANY SIGNS OF A PHYSIOLOGICAL INCIDENT. NONE NOTICED. CREW STAYED BELOW 10000 FT AND RETURNED TO MSP WITHOUT INCIDENT. PAX IN DEBRIEF RPTED HEARING A HISSING NOISE BEFORE THE LOUD BANG. REAR PAX RPTED SEEING THEIR BREATH AND COLD TEMPS AFTER LOSS OF CABIN. MAINT REMOVED FAULTY CONTROLLER.

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.