EMB145 flight crew experiences cabin de-pressurization climbing through FL290 and after complying wi...

Attributes
ACN	764974
Time
Date	200712
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	764974
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	764973
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While climbing through FL290 the cabin began to depressurize. An emergency was declared; memory items and appropriate checklists were completed. We landed uneventfully at the nearest suitable airport. Pressurization controls didn't appear to be functioning. Due to our altitude at the time of the depressurization the cabin oxygen masks dropped. The pressurization and pneumatics panel was configured properly with the packs being supplied by the engine bleeds. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that maintenance could not find any faults with packs or the pressurization system and released the aircraft for flight. The next flight crew reported that the aircraft would not pressurize properly and returned to the field for maintenance. At this time it was discovered that a baggage door seal had failed; causing all the problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB145 FLT CREW EXPERIENCES CABIN DE-PRESSURIZATION CLIMBING THROUGH FL290 AND AFTER COMPLYING WITH PROCEDURES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; LAND SAFELY AT NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING THROUGH FL290 THE CABIN BEGAN TO DEPRESSURIZE. AN EMER WAS DECLARED; MEMORY ITEMS AND APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS WERE COMPLETED. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. PRESSURIZATION CTLS DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE FUNCTIONING. DUE TO OUR ALT AT THE TIME OF THE DEPRESSURIZATION THE CABIN OXYGEN MASKS DROPPED. THE PRESSURIZATION AND PNEUMATICS PANEL WAS CONFIGURED PROPERLY WITH THE PACKS BEING SUPPLIED BY THE ENG BLEEDS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT MAINTENANCE COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULTS WITH PACKS OR THE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM AND RELEASED THE ACFT FOR FLIGHT. THE NEXT FLT CREW REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT PRESSURIZE PROPERLY AND RETURNED TO THE FIELD FOR MAINTENANCE. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A BAGGAGE DOOR SEAL HAD FAILED; CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS.

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.

EMB145 flight crew experiences cabin de-pressurization climbing through FL290 and after complying with procedures and declaring an emergency; land safely at nearest suitable airport.