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A B737 crew, en route at FL310, experienced a passenger medical emergency. During expedited descent, at FL210, the flaps were inadvertently extended to 5 degrees, 1000 ft above the flap extension limit altitude of FL200.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 535199 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200201 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bwi.airport |
| State Reference | MD |
| Altitude | msl single value : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| 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 : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 135 |
| ASRS Report | 535199 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event : passenger illness non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies |
| Independent Detector | other other : 3 |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Passenger Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
During an emergency medical divert, flaps 5 degrees was selected in the descent at 240 KTS and FL210. The limitation section of our manual states, 'maximum flap extension altitude FL200,' pilot reference manual states 'flap extension above 20000 ft should not be attempted.' an emergency had been declared, captain emergency authority/authorized was in effect. En route cruise from atl to lga, 'a-line' flight attendant informed cockpit of a passenger having trouble breathing, light headed and sweating. Oxygen was administered and seemed to help the situation. After a few mins, flight attendant reported passenger was getting worse, lost consciousness and had stopped breathing. Cpr was started. Flight declared an emergency and diverted to the nearest suitable airport, bwi. First officer took control of aircraft and radios while captain coordinated the divert and medical support issues. VFR descent and approach were accomplished. Flight arrived at gate with waiting medical personnel. En route to bwi, passenger began breathing, but remained unconscious. Did not have time for medical emergency. During the descent, flaps were extended at FL210 and 240 KTS. Maintenance inspection for overspd was performed with no problems reported. First officer and flight attendant crew did an outstanding job. ATC was excellent and complied with all requests.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737 CREW, ENRTE AT FL310, EXPERIENCED A PAX MEDICAL EMER. DURING EXPEDITED DSCNT, AT FL210, THE FLAPS WERE INADVERTENTLY EXTENDED TO 5 DEGS, 1000 FT ABOVE THE FLAP EXTENSION LIMIT ALT OF FL200.
Narrative: DURING AN EMER MEDICAL DIVERT, FLAPS 5 DEGS WAS SELECTED IN THE DSCNT AT 240 KTS AND FL210. THE LIMITATION SECTION OF OUR MANUAL STATES, 'MAX FLAP EXTENSION ALT FL200,' PLT REF MANUAL STATES 'FLAP EXTENSION ABOVE 20000 FT SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED.' AN EMER HAD BEEN DECLARED, CAPT EMER AUTH WAS IN EFFECT. ENRTE CRUISE FROM ATL TO LGA, 'A-LINE' FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED COCKPIT OF A PAX HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, LIGHT HEADED AND SWEATING. OXYGEN WAS ADMINISTERED AND SEEMED TO HELP THE SIT. AFTER A FEW MINS, FLT ATTENDANT RPTED PAX WAS GETTING WORSE, LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAD STOPPED BREATHING. CPR WAS STARTED. FLT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT, BWI. FO TOOK CTL OF ACFT AND RADIOS WHILE CAPT COORDINATED THE DIVERT AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ISSUES. VFR DSCNT AND APCH WERE ACCOMPLISHED. FLT ARRIVED AT GATE WITH WAITING MEDICAL PERSONNEL. ENRTE TO BWI, PAX BEGAN BREATHING, BUT REMAINED UNCONSCIOUS. DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR MEDICAL EMER. DURING THE DSCNT, FLAPS WERE EXTENDED AT FL210 AND 240 KTS. MAINT INSPECTION FOR OVERSPD WAS PERFORMED WITH NO PROBS RPTED. FO AND FLT ATTENDANT CREW DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. ATC WAS EXCELLENT AND COMPLIED WITH ALL REQUESTS.
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.