MD82 crew lost cabin pressurization in ZDC class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	517488
Time
Date	200108
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ekn.airport
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-82
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	517488
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	518194
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : flow light cabin altimeter rate felimb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising at FL280, the 'flow' light illuminated on the pressurization control panel. The cabin was climbing at over 2000 FPM. The captain assumed PF duties, oxygen masks were donned, and emergency checklist items were completed. We were cleared to FL260 (ATC did not yet know of the problem), and a descent was initiated. The cabin was still climbing rapidly through 10000 ft, so the passenger oxygen masks were deployed and an emergency descent was initiated. The captain informed ATC that a lower altitude was needed, at which time ATC issued a clearance to FL240. The captain emphasized that an immediate descent to 10000 ft was needed and responded 'affirmative' when ATC asked if an emergency was being declared. ATC issued a clearance to descend to 10000 ft and no previous altitude clrncs were violated. At no time did the 'cabin altitude' aural warning sound. The 'master warning' and 'cabin altitude' lights illuminated appropriately. At 10000 ft the captain terminated the emergency and the flight continued to pit, 85 NM away, where medical personnel evacuate/evacuationed several passenger with ear complaints.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD82 CREW LOST CABIN PRESSURIZATION IN ZDC CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL280, THE 'FLOW' LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE PRESSURIZATION CTL PANEL. THE CABIN WAS CLBING AT OVER 2000 FPM. THE CAPT ASSUMED PF DUTIES, OXYGEN MASKS WERE DONNED, AND EMER CHKLIST ITEMS WERE COMPLETED. WE WERE CLRED TO FL260 (ATC DID NOT YET KNOW OF THE PROB), AND A DSCNT WAS INITIATED. THE CABIN WAS STILL CLBING RAPIDLY THROUGH 10000 FT, SO THE PAX OXYGEN MASKS WERE DEPLOYED AND AN EMER DSCNT WAS INITIATED. THE CAPT INFORMED ATC THAT A LOWER ALT WAS NEEDED, AT WHICH TIME ATC ISSUED A CLRNC TO FL240. THE CAPT EMPHASIZED THAT AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO 10000 FT WAS NEEDED AND RESPONDED 'AFFIRMATIVE' WHEN ATC ASKED IF AN EMER WAS BEING DECLARED. ATC ISSUED A CLRNC TO DSND TO 10000 FT AND NO PREVIOUS ALT CLRNCS WERE VIOLATED. AT NO TIME DID THE 'CABIN ALT' AURAL WARNING SOUND. THE 'MASTER WARNING' AND 'CABIN ALT' LIGHTS ILLUMINATED APPROPRIATELY. AT 10000 FT THE CAPT TERMINATED THE EMER AND THE FLT CONTINUED TO PIT, 85 NM AWAY, WHERE MEDICAL PERSONNEL EVACED SEVERAL PAX WITH EAR COMPLAINTS.

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.