B737-300 returns to departure airport when unable to pressurize.

Attributes
ACN	811469
Time
Date	200811
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	811469
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cabin alt indicator other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After takeoff during the climb; I noticed cabin not pressurizing. Climb rate climbing with the aircraft rate of climb. After leveling at 8000 ft; completed QRH procedures. Still unable to pressurize cabin. At this time; flight attendant advised me of loud air noise from the 1L door. All door lights on the overhead were extinguished indicating a secure door. Called maintenance and advised to return to ZZZ. Maintenance inspected door seal (1L) and noticed some damage that prevented the door from sealing. Flight canceled.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 RETURNS TO DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF DURING THE CLB; I NOTICED CABIN NOT PRESSURIZING. CLB RATE CLBING WITH THE ACFT RATE OF CLB. AFTER LEVELING AT 8000 FT; COMPLETED QRH PROCS. STILL UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE CABIN. AT THIS TIME; FLT ATTENDANT ADVISED ME OF LOUD AIR NOISE FROM THE 1L DOOR. ALL DOOR LIGHTS ON THE OVERHEAD WERE EXTINGUISHED INDICATING A SECURE DOOR. CALLED MAINT AND ADVISED TO RETURN TO ZZZ. MAINT INSPECTED DOOR SEAL (1L) AND NOTICED SOME DAMAGE THAT PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM SEALING. FLT CANCELED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.