BE200 flight crew experiences rapid decompression at 17000 feet and executes emergency descent to 10...

Attributes
ACN	747428
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Super King Air 200 HDC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	747428
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	747427
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Level flight at 17000 ft. Crew only on board. Heard a loud 'kapow' then the aircraft depressurized. As I grabbed for my oxygen mask; the captain began an emergency descent. I called ATC; declared an emergency; told them of our situation and that we were descending to 10000 ft. I'm not sure if the captain descended before the emergency was declared. There was no traffic noted on our traffic avoidance equipment. The cabin door was unlocked (evidenced by yellow caution light). We landed at ZZZ without incident. After landing; we discovered that the door was locked; but the aft upper side latch pin had broken at the threads from the actuating rod. Any unauthorized altitude excursion would have occurred from the captain disengaging the autoplt and descending before the emergency was declared. We are a new crew. More training and better coordination will help prevent any situations like this in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE200 FLT CREW EXPERIENCES RAPID DECOMPRESSION AT 17000 FEET AND EXECUTES EMERGENCY DESCENT TO 10000 FEET.

Narrative: LEVEL FLT AT 17000 FT. CREW ONLY ON BOARD. HEARD A LOUD 'KAPOW' THEN THE ACFT DEPRESSURIZED. AS I GRABBED FOR MY OXYGEN MASK; THE CAPT BEGAN AN EMER DSCNT. I CALLED ATC; DECLARED AN EMER; TOLD THEM OF OUR SITUATION AND THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO 10000 FT. I'M NOT SURE IF THE CAPT DSNDED BEFORE THE EMER WAS DECLARED. THERE WAS NO TFC NOTED ON OUR TFC AVOIDANCE EQUIP. THE CABIN DOOR WAS UNLOCKED (EVIDENCED BY YELLOW CAUTION LIGHT). WE LANDED AT ZZZ WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER LNDG; WE DISCOVERED THAT THE DOOR WAS LOCKED; BUT THE AFT UPPER SIDE LATCH PIN HAD BROKEN AT THE THREADS FROM THE ACTUATING ROD. ANY UNAUTH ALT EXCURSION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED FROM THE CAPT DISENGAGING THE AUTOPLT AND DSNDING BEFORE THE EMER WAS DECLARED. WE ARE A NEW CREW. MORE TRAINING AND BETTER COORD WILL HELP PREVENT ANY SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

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.

BE200 flight crew experiences rapid decompression at 17000 feet and executes emergency descent to 10000 feet.