A DC9-30 flight crew declared an emergency when losing cabin pressure at FL245 in descent south of m...

Attributes
ACN	459106
Time
Date	200001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 24500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc tower : dtw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 660
ASRS Report	459106
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cabin altitude warning other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During a gradual descent, passing FL245, the red master warning and red cabin pressurization lights illuminated. Cabin pressure was noted at 10000 ft (but not rapidly climbing). We initiated an emergency descent, donned oxygen masks, and declared an emergency with ATC. After establishing intercom communications in the oxygen masks, the first officer read the communication procedures as we descended. Cabin pressure remained at 10000 ft during the emergency descent, and the masks did not drop down. At 10000 ft aircraft altitude, the cabin altitude was still at 10000 ft, so we descended normally to 4000 ft and continued the remaining 50 NM to mem. No passenger reported feeling ill as a result of the high cabin altitude. Our lead flight attendant did a great job of communicating with passenger to keep them calm, and informed. ATC was extremely helpful in clearing us for the emergency descent, and giving us a direct routing to mem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9-30 FLC DECLARED AN EMER WHEN LOSING CABIN PRESSURE AT FL245 IN DSCNT S OF MEM, TN.

Narrative: DURING A GRADUAL DSCNT, PASSING FL245, THE RED MASTER WARNING AND RED CABIN PRESSURIZATION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. CABIN PRESSURE WAS NOTED AT 10000 FT (BUT NOT RAPIDLY CLBING). WE INITIATED AN EMER DSCNT, DONNED OXYGEN MASKS, AND DECLARED AN EMER WITH ATC. AFTER ESTABLISHING INTERCOM COMS IN THE OXYGEN MASKS, THE FO READ THE COM PROCS AS WE DSNDED. CABIN PRESSURE REMAINED AT 10000 FT DURING THE EMER DSCNT, AND THE MASKS DID NOT DROP DOWN. AT 10000 FT ACFT ALT, THE CABIN ALT WAS STILL AT 10000 FT, SO WE DSNDED NORMALLY TO 4000 FT AND CONTINUED THE REMAINING 50 NM TO MEM. NO PAX RPTED FEELING ILL AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH CABIN ALT. OUR LEAD FLT ATTENDANT DID A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH PAX TO KEEP THEM CALM, AND INFORMED. ATC WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN CLRING US FOR THE EMER DSCNT, AND GIVING US A DIRECT ROUTING TO MEM.

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 DC9-30 flight crew declared an emergency when losing cabin pressure at FL245 in descent south of mem, tn.