An light transport crew experienced loss of cabin pressure at 17000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	508091
Time
Date	200103
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mei.vortac
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	508091
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While at cruise at 17000 ft, we experienced a rapid depressurization of the aircraft cabin. Captain declared an emergency and began immediate descent to 10000 ft MSL. Passenger oxygen masks deployed automatically. Captain continued to destination. Cause of depressurization was a failed cargo door seal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LTT CREW EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE AT 17000 FT.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE AT 17000 FT, WE EXPERIENCED A RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION OF THE ACFT CABIN. CAPT DECLARED AN EMER AND BEGAN IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO 10000 FT MSL. PAX OXYGEN MASKS DEPLOYED AUTOMATICALLY. CAPT CONTINUED TO DEST. CAUSE OF DEPRESSURIZATION WAS A FAILED CARGO DOOR SEAL.

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.