An A320 captain discovered his oxygen mask input line leaking when he removed the mask from its comp...

Attributes
ACN	729837
Time
Date	200703
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zab.artcc
State Reference	NM
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc tower : orl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	729837
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

A leak developed in the captain's oxygen mask input line. In the vicinity of abq; as the first officer prepared to get up to go to the lavatory; I reached for my oxygen mask; so that I could put it on. As I pulled the oxygen mask out of the container I realized that there was a leak in the oxygen mask input line. The leak was able to be shut off by closing and resetting the oxygen mask compartment door. The leak was stopped and sufficient oxygen quantity remained. I was able to use the left observer's oxygen mask and the first officer and I developed an alternate communication plan in case we would be required to use the oxygen masks in an emergency. The oxygen mask input line leak most likely would have been discovered if the preflight procedures required removing the oxygen mask from its container and checking its operation. Current preflight procedures were followed and the oxygen mask tested normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CAPT DISCOVERED HIS OXYGEN MASK INPUT LINE LEAKING WHEN HE REMOVED THE MASK FROM ITS COMPARTMENT AS THE FO PREPARED TO LEAVE THE FLT DECK IN FLT.

Narrative: A LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE CAPT'S OXYGEN MASK INPUT LINE. IN THE VICINITY OF ABQ; AS THE FO PREPARED TO GET UP TO GO TO THE LAVATORY; I REACHED FOR MY OXYGEN MASK; SO THAT I COULD PUT IT ON. AS I PULLED THE OXYGEN MASK OUT OF THE CONTAINER I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE OXYGEN MASK INPUT LINE. THE LEAK WAS ABLE TO BE SHUT OFF BY CLOSING AND RESETTING THE OXYGEN MASK COMPARTMENT DOOR. THE LEAK WAS STOPPED AND SUFFICIENT OXYGEN QUANTITY REMAINED. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE L OBSERVER'S OXYGEN MASK AND THE FO AND I DEVELOPED AN ALTERNATE COM PLAN IN CASE WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO USE THE OXYGEN MASKS IN AN EMER. THE OXYGEN MASK INPUT LINE LEAK MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IF THE PREFLT PROCS REQUIRED REMOVING THE OXYGEN MASK FROM ITS CONTAINER AND CHKING ITS OP. CURRENT PREFLT PROCS WERE FOLLOWED AND THE OXYGEN MASK TESTED NORMALLY.

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.

An A320 captain discovered his oxygen mask input line leaking when he removed the mask from its compartment as the first officer prepared to leave the flight deck in flight.