Narrative:

The left pack was on MEL due to repeat pack light on write ups on previous log pages. We complied with the MEL and departed using single pack operations and filed at FL240 due to MEL limitation. Pushback; taxi; takeoff; and departure [were] all normal. Prior to level off at FL240 the right wing body overheat light came on. I was the pilot flying and the captain was the pilot not flying. Captain ran the QRH (which does not address a single pack condition) and advised we would have to turn off the right pack; thus operating with no packs. We started an immediate descent and divert declaring an emergency with ATC. ZZZ was the closest airport at the time and I told the captain I agreed with his decision to divert into ZZZ as this was the most conservative course since we would be operating with no packs. Weather was good and no terrain issues like our departure airport. Captain complied with the QRH turning off the right pack approaching 10;000. He briefed the flight attendants and did a quick PA to the passengers. We set up for an overweight landing; flaps 30; weight approximately 127;000 pounds. With the left pack on MEL and the right pack turned off per QRH we finished the approach and landing in a zero pack configuration. Landing & taxi-in [were] uneventful.the introduction to the QRH says that the checklists do not cover every situation and that the crew's (captain's) judgment should prevail in such situations. It also says per far's that the captain may take any action deemed necessary for the safe completion of the flight. The QRH for wing body overheat assumes both packs are working. The captain's timely decision to start a descent and divert allowed us to follow the QRH (turning off the right pack) without depressurizing the aircraft. The event occurred because we were already operating under a handicap situation with the left pack MEL'd. According to the logbook; the left pack had been written up and MEL'd many times and never fixed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew was dispatched with one pack on MEL. A Right Wing Body overheat occurs during climb at FL240 which required the remaining pack to be turned off. Crew descended;and declared an emergency with ATC upon initiating their divert. Pack was turned of passing 10;000 FT.

Narrative: The left pack was on MEL due to repeat PACK light on write ups on previous log pages. We complied with the MEL and departed using single pack operations and filed at FL240 due to MEL limitation. Pushback; taxi; takeoff; and departure [were] all normal. Prior to level off at FL240 the Right Wing Body Overheat light came on. I was the pilot flying and the Captain was the pilot not flying. Captain ran the QRH (which does not address a single pack condition) and advised we would have to turn off the right pack; thus operating with NO packs. We started an immediate descent and divert declaring an emergency with ATC. ZZZ was the closest airport at the time and I told the Captain I agreed with his decision to divert into ZZZ as this was the most conservative course since we would be operating with no packs. Weather was good and no terrain issues like our departure airport. Captain complied with the QRH turning off the right pack approaching 10;000. He briefed the Flight Attendants and did a quick PA to the passengers. We set up for an overweight landing; flaps 30; weight approximately 127;000 LBS. With the left pack on MEL and the right pack turned off per QRH we finished the approach and landing in a zero pack configuration. Landing & taxi-in [were] uneventful.The introduction to the QRH says that the checklists do not cover every situation and that the crew's (Captain's) judgment should prevail in such situations. It also says per FAR's that the Captain may take any action deemed necessary for the safe completion of the flight. The QRH for Wing Body Overheat assumes both packs are working. The Captain's timely decision to start a descent and divert allowed us to follow the QRH (turning off the right pack) without depressurizing the aircraft. The event occurred because we were already operating under a handicap situation with the left pack MEL'd. According to the logbook; the left pack had been written up and MEL'd many times and never fixed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.