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An MD88 in climb at FL310 diverted due to loss of cabin pressurization caused by a broken actuator rod on the outflow valve.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 373201 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199706 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : vxv |
| State Reference | TN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-88 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : ztl |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1998 |
| ASRS Report | 373201 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 240 |
| ASRS Report | 372932 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
On climb out I heard a quiet pop. Cabin pressure controller flow light came on. Cabin climb at 1500 FPM (at least). Oxygen masks were donned and a descent initiated after clearance from ATC. Descent to 10000 ft was made. Maximum cabin altitude 12000 ft. A divert to atl and normal landing followed. Establishing communications was the most difficult part of the maneuver. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated an emergency was not declared as ATC cleared the flight immediately to atl and the cabin altitude did not exceed 12000 ft. He relates the pressurization failure was caused by a broken actuator rod on the main outflow valve.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD88 IN CLB AT FL310 DIVERTED DUE TO LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURIZATION CAUSED BY A BROKEN ACTUATOR ROD ON THE OUTFLOW VALVE.
Narrative: ON CLBOUT I HEARD A QUIET POP. CABIN PRESSURE CTLR FLOW LIGHT CAME ON. CABIN CLB AT 1500 FPM (AT LEAST). OXYGEN MASKS WERE DONNED AND A DSCNT INITIATED AFTER CLRNC FROM ATC. DSCNT TO 10000 FT WAS MADE. MAX CABIN ALT 12000 FT. A DIVERT TO ATL AND NORMAL LNDG FOLLOWED. ESTABLISHING COMS WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE MANEUVER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED AN EMER WAS NOT DECLARED AS ATC CLRED THE FLT IMMEDIATELY TO ATL AND THE CABIN ALT DID NOT EXCEED 12000 FT. HE RELATES THE PRESSURIZATION FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN ACTUATOR ROD ON THE MAIN OUTFLOW VALVE.
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.