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At FL350 air carrier medium large transport lost cabin pressurization and made a rapid descent to 16000'.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 96377 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198810 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mci |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 35000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 800 |
| ASRS Report | 96377 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12620 flight time type : 880 |
| ASRS Report | 96376 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
In cruise at 35000' off airways deviating south of course to avoid WX, the cabin began climbing at about 300-500 FPM. When it reached 10000' we decided to go to 14000'. At first ATC would not answer our calls (believe he was working 2 frequencys), so we started down and were able to inform ATC at 33500' that we were in an emergency descent and we were cleared on down to FL140. Did not ever squawk 7700 as we were in contact with center shortly after we began descent. The cabin held its own at about FL220, so we leveled at FL160 and continued on to mci with no further problems. Cabin never got over 10500' and passenger were basically unaware of any problems. However we did inform the cabin we had descended to a lower altitude due to pressure problems but not to be alarmed. Pressurization worked normally at FL220 and lower so felt no need to land anywhere other than our destination of mci. Plenty of fuel for the lower altitude, etc. Maintenance in mci said our main cabin door seal was the problem, as packs were working fine the entire time. As far as I'm concerned, this was just another day in aviation. No big deal, but felt it would be wise to inform you of the situation that did occur.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AT FL350 ACR MLG LOST CABIN PRESSURIZATION AND MADE A RAPID DESCENT TO 16000'.
Narrative: IN CRUISE AT 35000' OFF AIRWAYS DEVIATING S OF COURSE TO AVOID WX, THE CABIN BEGAN CLBING AT ABOUT 300-500 FPM. WHEN IT REACHED 10000' WE DECIDED TO GO TO 14000'. AT FIRST ATC WOULD NOT ANSWER OUR CALLS (BELIEVE HE WAS WORKING 2 FREQS), SO WE STARTED DOWN AND WERE ABLE TO INFORM ATC AT 33500' THAT WE WERE IN AN EMER DSCNT AND WE WERE CLRED ON DOWN TO FL140. DID NOT EVER SQUAWK 7700 AS WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH CENTER SHORTLY AFTER WE BEGAN DSCNT. THE CABIN HELD ITS OWN AT ABOUT FL220, SO WE LEVELED AT FL160 AND CONTINUED ON TO MCI WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. CABIN NEVER GOT OVER 10500' AND PAX WERE BASICALLY UNAWARE OF ANY PROBS. HOWEVER WE DID INFORM THE CABIN WE HAD DSNDED TO A LOWER ALT DUE TO PRESSURE PROBS BUT NOT TO BE ALARMED. PRESSURIZATION WORKED NORMALLY AT FL220 AND LOWER SO FELT NO NEED TO LAND ANYWHERE OTHER THAN OUR DEST OF MCI. PLENTY OF FUEL FOR THE LOWER ALT, ETC. MAINT IN MCI SAID OUR MAIN CABIN DOOR SEAL WAS THE PROB, AS PACKS WERE WORKING FINE THE ENTIRE TIME. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER DAY IN AVIATION. NO BIG DEAL, BUT FELT IT WOULD BE WISE TO INFORM YOU OF THE SITUATION THAT DID OCCUR.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.