B737-300 pressurization automatic fail light illuminated after takeoff from san.

Attributes
ACN	428262
Time
Date	199902
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mzb.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure : other published ifr departure
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 4520
ASRS Report	428262
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : pressurization auto fail lgt
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : overrode automation none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On climb out, call sign air carrier 123 from san, noticed cabin altitude climbing at +2000 FPM (norm is 500 FPM). Automatic fail light illuminated. Got out automatic fail loss of pressurization checklist, but was interrupted with having to prompt first officer, who was flying leg to level off at 10000 ft, and altitude warning horn. So selected packs on high during that, but did no good -- so I thought I returned them to automatic. When I got to checklist 'confirm bleeds on,' I realized the bleeds were off and packs on high. I do not know if we took off in that confign or if I inadvertently turned off the bleeds, when I thought of turning the packs back to automatic? When bleeds selected on, pressurization returned to normal. Step-climbed to cruise altitude (FL320) with vigilant eye on pressurization schedule, which worked normally for descent into las with maintenance in las who thought it was a supply problem. Did not write up discrepancy since the supply problem was bleeds in off position!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 PRESSURIZATION AUTO FAIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER TKOF FROM SAN.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT, CALL SIGN ACR 123 FROM SAN, NOTICED CABIN ALT CLBING AT +2000 FPM (NORM IS 500 FPM). AUTO FAIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. GOT OUT AUTO FAIL LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION CHKLIST, BUT WAS INTERRUPTED WITH HAVING TO PROMPT FO, WHO WAS FLYING LEG TO LEVEL OFF AT 10000 FT, AND ALT WARNING HORN. SO SELECTED PACKS ON HIGH DURING THAT, BUT DID NO GOOD -- SO I THOUGHT I RETURNED THEM TO AUTO. WHEN I GOT TO CHKLIST 'CONFIRM BLEEDS ON,' I REALIZED THE BLEEDS WERE OFF AND PACKS ON HIGH. I DO NOT KNOW IF WE TOOK OFF IN THAT CONFIGN OR IF I INADVERTENTLY TURNED OFF THE BLEEDS, WHEN I THOUGHT OF TURNING THE PACKS BACK TO AUTO? WHEN BLEEDS SELECTED ON, PRESSURIZATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. STEP-CLBED TO CRUISE ALT (FL320) WITH VIGILANT EYE ON PRESSURIZATION SCHEDULE, WHICH WORKED NORMALLY FOR DSCNT INTO LAS WITH MAINT IN LAS WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A SUPPLY PROB. DID NOT WRITE UP DISCREPANCY SINCE THE SUPPLY PROB WAS BLEEDS IN OFF POS!

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.