A B737-800's pressurization system failed climbing through FL287 so an emergency was declared and th...

Attributes
ACN	968025
Time
Date	201109
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Pressurization Control System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Flight Engineer Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 147 Flight Crew Total 13215 Flight Crew Type 5442
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

During climb passing FL287 heading toward FL350 on an ATC clearance direct to a down track fix and rest of flight planned route to our destination; cabin pressurization system completely failed. We initially received and followed a descent clearance to FL240; whereupon ATC would not issue a further descent because of an underlying warning area. Captain declared an emergency at that time; and requested further descent to below 10;000 MSL. ATC issued a clearance to 12;000; and our aircraft rapidly descended to 12;000. We were handed over to [the divert airport] approach control and continued an uneventful diversion where maintenance resolved the pressurization irregularity. We remained in positive ATC control through out flight. Aircraft's cabin never exceeded 9000 feet in spite of loss of pressurization system at FL280+.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800's pressurization system failed climbing through FL287 so an emergency was declared and the flight diverted to a nearby airport where repairs were made.

Narrative: During climb passing FL287 heading toward FL350 on an ATC clearance direct to a down track fix and rest of flight planned route to our destination; cabin pressurization system completely failed. We initially received and followed a descent clearance to FL240; whereupon ATC would not issue a further descent because of an underlying Warning Area. Captain declared an emergency at that time; and requested further descent to below 10;000 MSL. ATC issued a clearance to 12;000; and our aircraft rapidly descended to 12;000. We were handed over to [the divert airport] approach control and continued an uneventful diversion where maintenance resolved the pressurization irregularity. We remained in positive ATC control through out flight. Aircraft's cabin never exceeded 9000 feet in spite of loss of pressurization system at FL280+.

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.