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Citation crew experienced a slow loss of pressurization and immediately requested and received a lower altitude from ATC and diverted. Pilot monitoring failed to don his O2 mask.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1298417 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZHU.ARTCC |
| State Reference | TX |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Citation V/Ultra/Encore (C560) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Pressurization System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural FAR |
Narrative:
While enroute at 41;000 ft.; both the crew and passenger noticed a loud pop. There was also some 'movement'. Everything seemed ok. After a few moments; it was noted that the cabin was rising around 500 fpm. We assumed that the pop was associated with a pressurization issue. Immediately requested 25;000 ft with ATC. Started an expeditious decent. Pilot monitoring (pilot in command) donned his O2 mask. ATC was having trouble getting lower. Did not declare an emergency; but made it clear we needed to get lower immediately. ATC provided us a turn and decent to 11;000 ft. We continued a quick decent with speed brakes deployed. The cabin was still staying around a 500 fpm climb. The highest the cabin ever got was 9000 ft as we were reaching 10;000 ft. With the uncertainty of the issue; the weather deviations in front of us at the lower altitude and passenger anxiety; we decided to divert. Cabin altitude descended with us. Arrival; approach and landing were uneventful. Looking back; the one item I missed was donning my mask in case the situation escalated. It was a very slow leak that demanded immediate attention. Not an emergency; and we descended as quick as we could. The cabin was never out of control. But if it had let loose; even with pilot monitoring having his mask; I should of had mine also; just in case. We got busy with trying to diagnose the issue; dealing with ATC and our passenger was somewhat distracting with questions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Citation crew experienced a slow loss of pressurization and immediately requested and received a lower altitude from ATC and diverted. Pilot monitoring failed to don his O2 mask.
Narrative: While enroute at 41;000 ft.; both the crew and passenger noticed a loud pop. There was also some 'movement'. Everything seemed OK. After a few moments; it was noted that the cabin was rising around 500 fpm. We assumed that the pop was associated with a pressurization issue. Immediately requested 25;000 ft with ATC. Started an expeditious decent. Pilot Monitoring (Pilot In Command) donned his O2 mask. ATC was having trouble getting lower. Did not declare an emergency; but made it clear we needed to get lower immediately. ATC provided us a turn and decent to 11;000 ft. We continued a quick decent with speed brakes deployed. The cabin was still staying around a 500 fpm climb. The highest the cabin ever got was 9000 ft as we were reaching 10;000 ft. With the uncertainty of the issue; the weather deviations in front of us at the lower altitude and passenger anxiety; we decided to divert. Cabin altitude descended with us. Arrival; approach and landing were uneventful. Looking back; the one item I missed was donning my mask in case the situation escalated. It was a very slow leak that demanded immediate attention. Not an emergency; and we descended as quick as we could. The cabin was never out of control. But if it had let loose; even with pilot monitoring having his mask; I should of had mine also; just in case. We got busy with trying to diagnose the issue; dealing with ATC and our passenger was somewhat distracting with questions.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.