Passenger induced depressurization -- tried to open exit door in-flight.

Attributes
ACN	329019
Time
Date	199602
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fpd
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zma
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 11400 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	329019
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During cruise we experienced a rapid pressure loss. We performed the rapid depressurization and emergency descent checklists. Cabin pressure was not controllable. Leveling at 9000 ft, flight attendant notified the first officer and I that a passenger seated in an emergency exit row had attempted to open the emergency exit. She prevented him from opening the exit then moved him to the front of the aircraft near her jump seat. Pressure loss was due to the raising of the exit handle. First officer then entered the passenger cabin to verify the security of the door. We continued flight without further incident. Customer service in nassau was informed. Passenger was very claustrophobic and panic was caused by the size of the aircraft. The flight attendant did an excellent job of maintaining control of a very difficult situation. She handled this without losing her composure. Her quick thinking and professionalism are to be commended.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PAX INDUCED DEPRESSURIZATION -- TRIED TO OPEN EXIT DOOR INFLT.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE WE EXPERIENCED A RAPID PRESSURE LOSS. WE PERFORMED THE RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION AND EMER DSCNT CHKLISTS. CABIN PRESSURE WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE. LEVELING AT 9000 FT, FLT ATTENDANT NOTIFIED THE FO AND I THAT A PAX SEATED IN AN EMER EXIT ROW HAD ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE EMER EXIT. SHE PREVENTED HIM FROM OPENING THE EXIT THEN MOVED HIM TO THE FRONT OF THE ACFT NEAR HER JUMP SEAT. PRESSURE LOSS WAS DUE TO THE RAISING OF THE EXIT HANDLE. FO THEN ENTERED THE PAX CABIN TO VERIFY THE SECURITY OF THE DOOR. WE CONTINUED FLT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CUSTOMER SVC IN NASSAU WAS INFORMED. PAX WAS VERY CLAUSTROPHOBIC AND PANIC WAS CAUSED BY THE SIZE OF THE ACFT. THE FLT ATTENDANT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MAINTAINING CTL OF A VERY DIFFICULT SIT. SHE HANDLED THIS WITHOUT LOSING HER COMPOSURE. HER QUICK THINKING AND PROFESSIONALISM ARE TO BE COMMENDED.

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.