A captain reports that L1011 flight crew smoke oxygen masks do not seal to the face and are ineffect...

Attributes
ACN	372390
Time
Date	199706
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zoa
State Reference	CA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011 Tri-Star All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 0 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	372390
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	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

As a captain for air carrier I have recently started flying the L1011 from the west coast to ZZZ. I discovered that in about 80% of the planes I cannot get the oxygen mask to seal to my face. (Ambient comes in on inhale, and on exhaling I blow into my eyes.) I aurally briefed captain XXX (manager safety) and he tells me that they are aware of the problem, it does not only affect me, and that they have investigated getting new masks but they cost $4000 a piece, $20000 per aircraft. I keep thinking of xyz and think that this is the classic problem of economics taking precedence over safety. I would hate to see us lose 300+ people because of this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CAPT RPTS THAT L1011 FLC SMOKE OXYGEN MASKS DO NOT SEAL TO THE FACE AND ARE INEFFECTIVE.

Narrative: AS A CAPT FOR ACR I HAVE RECENTLY STARTED FLYING THE L1011 FROM THE WEST COAST TO ZZZ. I DISCOVERED THAT IN ABOUT 80% OF THE PLANES I CANNOT GET THE OXYGEN MASK TO SEAL TO MY FACE. (AMBIENT COMES IN ON INHALE, AND ON EXHALING I BLOW INTO MY EYES.) I AURALLY BRIEFED CAPT XXX (MGR SAFETY) AND HE TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROB, IT DOES NOT ONLY AFFECT ME, AND THAT THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED GETTING NEW MASKS BUT THEY COST $4000 A PIECE, $20000 PER ACFT. I KEEP THINKING OF XYZ AND THINK THAT THIS IS THE CLASSIC PROB OF ECONOMICS TAKING PRECEDENCE OVER SAFETY. I WOULD HATE TO SEE US LOSE 300+ PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THIS.

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.

A captain reports that L1011 flight crew smoke oxygen masks do not seal to the face and are ineffective.