Narrative:

We were at cruise at FL280 and were given discretion to FL240. As we descended out of FL260, we discovered that autopressure controllers #1 and #2 (blue) lights on, autopressure failure (amber) lights on, flow (amber) lights on, and the cabin rate of climb indicator climbing at 1500+ FPM we asked ATC controller for lower and were told to stand by. We then told the controller we needed to get down and again told to stand by. We then declared an emergency and were given 16000 ft. We told the controller we needed lower and were given 12000 ft and 10000 ft would be available in 5 mi. We were then given 10000 ft. We complied with rapid decompression, emergency descent, pressurization automatic-inoperative, pressurization manual, descent, and approach checklists. We also had the engine and wing heat on for the moderate icing condition. We were able to stop the cabin altitude from climbing above 7500 ft and start it down with manual pressurization. We checked with the cabin and the flight attendants' and passenger's conditions. We arranged for paramedics to meet the 5 passenger that were complaining about their ears, upon aircraft arrival. The arrival, approach, landing were normal. The 5 passenger were met and interviewed by the paramedics. They were dismissed without treatment or injury.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LGT CREW, DURING DSCNT, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE, SPAWNING AN EMER DSCNT TO 10000 FT.

Narrative: WE WERE AT CRUISE AT FL280 AND WERE GIVEN DISCRETION TO FL240. AS WE DSNDED OUT OF FL260, WE DISCOVERED THAT AUTOPRESSURE CONTROLLERS #1 AND #2 (BLUE) LIGHTS ON, AUTOPRESSURE FAILURE (AMBER) LIGHTS ON, FLOW (AMBER) LIGHTS ON, AND THE CABIN RATE OF CLB INDICATOR CLBING AT 1500+ FPM WE ASKED ATC CTLR FOR LOWER AND WERE TOLD TO STAND BY. WE THEN TOLD THE CTLR WE NEEDED TO GET DOWN AND AGAIN TOLD TO STAND BY. WE THEN DECLARED AN EMER AND WERE GIVEN 16000 FT. WE TOLD THE CTLR WE NEEDED LOWER AND WERE GIVEN 12000 FT AND 10000 FT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN 5 MI. WE WERE THEN GIVEN 10000 FT. WE COMPLIED WITH RAPID DECOMPRESSION, EMER DSCNT, PRESSURIZATION AUTO-INOP, PRESSURIZATION MANUAL, DSCNT, AND APCH CHKLISTS. WE ALSO HAD THE ENG AND WING HEAT ON FOR THE MODERATE ICING CONDITION. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CABIN ALT FROM CLBING ABOVE 7500 FT AND START IT DOWN WITH MANUAL PRESSURIZATION. WE CHKED WITH THE CABIN AND THE FLT ATTENDANTS' AND PAX'S CONDITIONS. WE ARRANGED FOR PARAMEDICS TO MEET THE 5 PAX THAT WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR EARS, UPON ACFT ARR. THE ARR, APCH, LNDG WERE NORMAL. THE 5 PAX WERE MET AND INTERVIEWED BY THE PARAMEDICS. THEY WERE DISMISSED WITHOUT TREATMENT OR INJURY.

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.