Narrative:

During the climb to our assigned altitude of FL370, the tail compartment temperature high warning light illuminated, indicating a bleed air leak in the tailcone. We requested and received clearance to level at our present altitude and accomplished the appropriate checklist. Upon completion of that checklist we noted that the cabin altitude was increasing in excess of 1500 FPM. We immediately requested and received clearance for a descent eventually to 10000 ft and a return to dfw for the pressurization problem. Appropriate checklists were accomplished, but cabin altitude climbed to about 15000 ft resulting in deployment and use of the passenger oxygen system. At no time was an emergency declared or (to our knowledge) traffic priority received. Once below 10000 ft, we returned to the airport without further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EQUIP PROBLEM MANDATES A RETURN LAND BUT NOT BEFORE DEPLOYMENT OF PAX OXYGEN MASKS AS CABIN ALT REACHES 15000 FT.

Narrative: DURING THE CLB TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF FL370, THE TAIL COMPARTMENT TEMP HIGH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A BLEED AIR LEAK IN THE TAILCONE. WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO LEVEL AT OUR PRESENT ALT AND ACCOMPLISHED THE APPROPRIATE CHKLIST. UPON COMPLETION OF THAT CHKLIST WE NOTED THAT THE CABIN ALT WAS INCREASING IN EXCESS OF 1500 FPM. WE IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC FOR A DSCNT EVENTUALLY TO 10000 FT AND A RETURN TO DFW FOR THE PRESSURIZATION PROBLEM. APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS WERE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT CABIN ALT CLBED TO ABOUT 15000 FT RESULTING IN DEPLOYMENT AND USE OF THE PAX OXYGEN SYS. AT NO TIME WAS AN EMER DECLARED OR (TO OUR KNOWLEDGE) TFC PRIORITY RECEIVED. ONCE BELOW 10000 FT, WE RETURNED TO THE ARPT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.