A320 was dispatched with one pack inoperative. When remaining pack overheated; emergency descent was...

Attributes
ACN	745123
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	74512
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We left ZZZ with pack #2 MEL'ed. Normal climb out. Approximately 2 hours into flight; pack #1 overheat emergency descent pack reset at FL190. Continued descent to 10000 ft; as I was unsure if it would remain operational. Passenger masks did not drop as cabin altitude never exceeded 7500 ft. Decided to divert to ZZZ2 although ZZZ3 was 100 mi closer. Aircraft #2 146000 pounds; so ZZZ2 would put us at normal landing weight. WX clear. Flight attendants advised; passenger advised; all SOP's followed. Normal landing ZZZ2. Maintenance fixed pack #2 and proceeded to MEL pack #1 after 6 hours. Flight #2 dispatched to ZZZ4. I bumped fuel by 1300 pounds to bring us up to maximum takeoff weight as WX approaching ZZZ2 from the west. Center advised us of a rerte to the east approximately 15 mins later. Advised ZZZ center we did not have enough fuel on board for that rerte as it added 500 mi to route. They were unable to shorten flight plan. I called company and explained our predicament that it would put us 'in' with 2.5K fuel on board. ZZZ4 taf 300 degrees at 15 KTS gusting to 28 KTS. Decided to divert yet again this time to ZZZ3 passenger about to riot. Quick turn and ZZZ4 leg normal to destination. Maintenance stop releasing aircraft to service with pack MEL'ed and a problematic history on remaining pack.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 WAS DISPATCHED WITH ONE PACK INOP. WHEN REMAINING PACK OVERHEATED; EMER DESCENT WAS INITIATED AND FLT DIVERTED FOR PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

Narrative: WE LEFT ZZZ WITH PACK #2 MEL'ED. NORMAL CLBOUT. APPROX 2 HRS INTO FLT; PACK #1 OVERHEAT EMER DSCNT PACK RESET AT FL190. CONTINUED DSCNT TO 10000 FT; AS I WAS UNSURE IF IT WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL. PAX MASKS DID NOT DROP AS CABIN ALT NEVER EXCEEDED 7500 FT. DECIDED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ2 ALTHOUGH ZZZ3 WAS 100 MI CLOSER. ACFT #2 146000 LBS; SO ZZZ2 WOULD PUT US AT NORMAL LNDG WT. WX CLR. FLT ATTENDANTS ADVISED; PAX ADVISED; ALL SOP'S FOLLOWED. NORMAL LNDG ZZZ2. MAINT FIXED PACK #2 AND PROCEEDED TO MEL PACK #1 AFTER 6 HRS. FLT #2 DISPATCHED TO ZZZ4. I BUMPED FUEL BY 1300 LBS TO BRING US UP TO MAX TKOF WT AS WX APCHING ZZZ2 FROM THE W. CTR ADVISED US OF A RERTE TO THE E APPROX 15 MINS LATER. ADVISED ZZZ CTR WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL ON BOARD FOR THAT RERTE AS IT ADDED 500 MI TO RTE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO SHORTEN FLT PLAN. I CALLED COMPANY AND EXPLAINED OUR PREDICAMENT THAT IT WOULD PUT US 'IN' WITH 2.5K FUEL ON BOARD. ZZZ4 TAF 300 DEGS AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 28 KTS. DECIDED TO DIVERT YET AGAIN THIS TIME TO ZZZ3 PAX ABOUT TO RIOT. QUICK TURN AND ZZZ4 LEG NORMAL TO DEST. MAINT STOP RELEASING ACFT TO SVC WITH PACK MEL'ED AND A PROBLEMATIC HISTORY ON REMAINING PACK.

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.

A320 was dispatched with one pack inoperative. When remaining pack overheated; emergency descent was initiated and flight diverted for precautionary landing.