Citation CE560 has loss of pressurization at FL340; declares emergency and diverts for landing.

Attributes
ACN	718328
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.vor
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tower : gnv.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation Excel
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other Other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 136 flight time total : 3433 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	718328
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising at FL340; the aircraft experienced a rapid cabin depressurization. After donning the oxygen mask; I initiated an emergency descent in accordance with SOP's. I had the first officer squawk 7700 and declare an emergency. I dropped the passenger oxygen masks and looked back to make sure they were using them. Center had cleared us down to FL240; but by the time that transmission was received; we were already passing FL220 on our way down to 10000 ft MSL. I leveled the aircraft at 10000 ft and had everyone come off their oxygen. It was good VMC; so terrain clearance was never an issue. ZZZ center told us we were below the minimum altitude and if we could maintain VFR on top. After completing the checklist items; making sure the passenger were not hurt; and noting the aircraft was structurally sound; I made the decision to continue to ZZZ 10000 ft. We returned to our original squawk code and declined emergency equipment at the destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CITATION CE560 HAS LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION AT FL340; DECLARES EMER AND DIVERTS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL340; THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A RAPID CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION. AFTER DONNING THE OXYGEN MASK; I INITIATED AN EMER DSCNT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOP'S. I HAD THE FO SQUAWK 7700 AND DECLARE AN EMER. I DROPPED THE PAX OXYGEN MASKS AND LOOKED BACK TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE USING THEM. CTR HAD CLRED US DOWN TO FL240; BUT BY THE TIME THAT XMISSION WAS RECEIVED; WE WERE ALREADY PASSING FL220 ON OUR WAY DOWN TO 10000 FT MSL. I LEVELED THE ACFT AT 10000 FT AND HAD EVERYONE COME OFF THEIR OXYGEN. IT WAS GOOD VMC; SO TERRAIN CLRNC WAS NEVER AN ISSUE. ZZZ CTR TOLD US WE WERE BELOW THE MINIMUM ALT AND IF WE COULD MAINTAIN VFR ON TOP. AFTER COMPLETING THE CHKLIST ITEMS; MAKING SURE THE PAX WERE NOT HURT; AND NOTING THE ACFT WAS STRUCTURALLY SOUND; I MADE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE TO ZZZ 10000 FT. WE RETURNED TO OUR ORIGINAL SQUAWK CODE AND DECLINED EMER EQUIP AT THE DEST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.