Commuter light transport forces flight crew to declare an emergency to get a lower altitude.

Attributes
ACN	145065
Time
Date	199005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hto
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 99
ASRS Report	145065
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On J121, approximately 85 mi south of hto VOR at FL220, a loss of pressurization was noticed. The captain requested a lower altitude, but ZNY was unable due to traffic. The captain requested a lower altitude again, informing ATC that the aircraft was losing pressurization. A lower altitude (FL210) was given due to traffic. The captain requested a lower altitude--this time being more demanding. ATC asked if he would declare an emergency. The captain declared an emergency and an immediate response was given to descend to 7000'. The aircraft also experienced a failure of the right pack. (All of the necessary checklists were performed.) during level off at 7000' ATC asked if the aircraft needed to divert. The captain responded, that the pressurization problem was no longer an emergency. ATC then asked if he (captain) would like to cancel the emergency. The captain cancelled the emergency and the aircraft proceeded to isp west/O further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT FORCES FLT CREW TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY TO GET A LOWER ALT.

Narrative: ON J121, APPROX 85 MI S OF HTO VOR AT FL220, A LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION WAS NOTICED. THE CAPT REQUESTED A LOWER ALT, BUT ZNY WAS UNABLE DUE TO TFC. THE CAPT REQUESTED A LOWER ALT AGAIN, INFORMING ATC THAT THE ACFT WAS LOSING PRESSURIZATION. A LOWER ALT (FL210) WAS GIVEN DUE TO TFC. THE CAPT REQUESTED A LOWER ALT--THIS TIME BEING MORE DEMANDING. ATC ASKED IF HE WOULD DECLARE AN EMER. THE CAPT DECLARED AN EMER AND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS GIVEN TO DSND TO 7000'. THE ACFT ALSO EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT PACK. (ALL OF THE NECESSARY CHKLISTS WERE PERFORMED.) DURING LEVEL OFF AT 7000' ATC ASKED IF THE ACFT NEEDED TO DIVERT. THE CAPT RESPONDED, THAT THE PRESSURIZATION PROB WAS NO LONGER AN EMER. ATC THEN ASKED IF HE (CAPT) WOULD LIKE TO CANCEL THE EMER. THE CAPT CANCELLED THE EMER AND THE ACFT PROCEEDED TO ISP W/O FURTHER PROBS.

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