B767 first officer attempting to stow oxygen mask; breaks red tab causing mask to be unserviceable. ...

Attributes
ACN	736469
Time
Date	200704
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gck.vortac
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	736469
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After the captain's restroom break; the first officer proceeded to attempt to store his oxygen mask. The movable red tab that you squeeze broke and oxygen was unctlably flowing out of the hole at the broken tab. The mask was obviously unusable. The first officer secured the tab with a rubber band to stop the depletion of the cockpit crew oxygen. We immediately requested a descent to FL250; then to 10000 ft. Considering our position was over gck; we felt that den would be a suitable diversion destination. We informed dispatch and they replied with the suggestion by dispatch to perhaps have the first officer use the first observers oxygen mask. We did not feel that would comply with the flight manual; as if we had an emergency the qrc clearly states 'crew communications establish.' this would be impossible to have the first officer in his seat. He wouldn't be able to communicate. Also; we were concerned that although the first officer stopped the crew oxygen from becoming depleted by applying a rubber band to the mask; that if the rubber band broke (like the first one did!); none of us in the cockpit would have oxygen. We diverted uneventfully to denver.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 FO ATTEMPTING TO STOW OXYGEN MASK; BREAKS RED TAB CAUSING MASK TO BE UNSERVICEABLE. FLT CREW DESCENDS TO 10000 FEET AND DIVERTS TO SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: AFTER THE CAPT'S RESTROOM BREAK; THE FO PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO STORE HIS OXYGEN MASK. THE MOVABLE RED TAB THAT YOU SQUEEZE BROKE AND OXYGEN WAS UNCTLABLY FLOWING OUT OF THE HOLE AT THE BROKEN TAB. THE MASK WAS OBVIOUSLY UNUSABLE. THE FO SECURED THE TAB WITH A RUBBER BAND TO STOP THE DEPLETION OF THE COCKPIT CREW OXYGEN. WE IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED A DSCNT TO FL250; THEN TO 10000 FT. CONSIDERING OUR POS WAS OVER GCK; WE FELT THAT DEN WOULD BE A SUITABLE DIVERSION DEST. WE INFORMED DISPATCH AND THEY REPLIED WITH THE SUGGESTION BY DISPATCH TO PERHAPS HAVE THE FO USE THE FIRST OBSERVERS OXYGEN MASK. WE DID NOT FEEL THAT WOULD COMPLY WITH THE FLT MANUAL; AS IF WE HAD AN EMER THE QRC CLRLY STATES 'CREW COMS ESTABLISH.' THIS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THE FO IN HIS SEAT. HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE. ALSO; WE WERE CONCERNED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FO STOPPED THE CREW OXYGEN FROM BECOMING DEPLETED BY APPLYING A RUBBER BAND TO THE MASK; THAT IF THE RUBBER BAND BROKE (LIKE THE FIRST ONE DID!); NONE OF US IN THE COCKPIT WOULD HAVE OXYGEN. WE DIVERTED UNEVENTFULLY TO DENVER.

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.

B767 first officer attempting to stow oxygen mask; breaks red tab causing mask to be unserviceable. Flight crew descends to 10000 feet and diverts to suitable airport.