An air carrier pilot reports a diluter demand oxygen bottle was being used by a passenger in the off...

Attributes
ACN	750807
Time
Date	200708
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	750807
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event : passenger illness non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewb
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Passenger Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

A customer notified us that the therapeutic oxygen wasn't at the proper (1 lt/hour versus 2 lt/hour). The flight attendant didn't have any procedures for her to adjust or even turn on the oxygen. I am familiar with the system; and found that the bottle was not turned on (passenger was on the oxygen with it turned off). This could have been a serious situation. Upon landing we talked to maintenance who did not seem to be familiar with the system. (Eg: the bottle seemed to have a demand regulator on it -- not a constant flow regulator. These are very different regulators with different controls.) my concern is that nobody that day (maintenance nor flight attendant) believed it was their job to turn on the oxygen. Secondly; neither were trained on or even knew about the demand regulator; the controls are different (eg; there are 2 valves; 1 for lt/hour and 1 shutoff. The shutoff valve was hard to see and harder to reach. The lt/hour gauge made it appear that the main valve was open because it was a demand regulator -- there was still pressure in the line even though the main valve was turned off).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PILOT REPORTS A DILUTER DEMAND OXYGEN BOTTLE WAS BEING USED BY A PAX IN THE OFF POSITION AND FA DID NOT KNOW HOW TO OPEN IT.

Narrative: A CUSTOMER NOTIFIED US THAT THE THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN WASN'T AT THE PROPER (1 LT/HR VERSUS 2 LT/HR). THE FLT ATTENDANT DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROCS FOR HER TO ADJUST OR EVEN TURN ON THE OXYGEN. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE SYS; AND FOUND THAT THE BOTTLE WAS NOT TURNED ON (PAX WAS ON THE OXYGEN WITH IT TURNED OFF). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION. UPON LNDG WE TALKED TO MAINT WHO DID NOT SEEM TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SYS. (EG: THE BOTTLE SEEMED TO HAVE A DEMAND REGULATOR ON IT -- NOT A CONSTANT FLOW REGULATOR. THESE ARE VERY DIFFERENT REGULATORS WITH DIFFERENT CTLS.) MY CONCERN IS THAT NOBODY THAT DAY (MAINT NOR FLT ATTENDANT) BELIEVED IT WAS THEIR JOB TO TURN ON THE OXYGEN. SECONDLY; NEITHER WERE TRAINED ON OR EVEN KNEW ABOUT THE DEMAND REGULATOR; THE CTLS ARE DIFFERENT (EG; THERE ARE 2 VALVES; 1 FOR LT/HR AND 1 SHUTOFF. THE SHUTOFF VALVE WAS HARD TO SEE AND HARDER TO REACH. THE LT/HR GAUGE MADE IT APPEAR THAT THE MAIN VALVE WAS OPEN BECAUSE IT WAS A DEMAND REGULATOR -- THERE WAS STILL PRESSURE IN THE LINE EVEN THOUGH THE MAIN VALVE WAS TURNED OFF).

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 air carrier pilot reports a diluter demand oxygen bottle was being used by a passenger in the off position and flight attendant did not know how to open it.