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MD80 cabin window cracked causing a loud bang resulting in the flight crew making an emergency descent from cruise and diverting to land.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 519120 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200107 |
| Day | Sat |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zme.artcc |
| State Reference | TN |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc tracon : n90.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight attendant : on duty |
| Qualification | flight attendant : currently qualified flight attendant aircraft qualified on : 5 |
| Experience | flight attendant time airline total : 10 flight attendant time total : 10 |
| ASRS Report | 519120 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other other : 4 (cab #4) |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Window in coach, aircraft left, cracked with a loud bang. We descended to 10000 ft and depressurized the cabin and diverted to nashville. At first, no one knew what caused the bang, but the #4 flight attendant, after notifying the captain of the noise, happened to notice it. The only thing I can think of that should've been done differently is the fasten seatbelt sign should have been turned on. I kept waiting for the captain to turn it on after learning of the crack. I later realized I could've just stuck my head in the cockpit and asked them to turn it on. Of course, he did turn it on. But I could've asked for it sooner. I would've felt better and I'm sure the passenger would've also. The guys get busy up there.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD80 CABIN WINDOW CRACKED CAUSING A LOUD BANG RESULTING IN THE FLC MAKING AN EMER DSCNT FROM CRUISE AND DIVERTING TO LAND.
Narrative: WINDOW IN COACH, ACFT LEFT, CRACKED WITH A LOUD BANG. WE DSNDED TO 10000 FT AND DEPRESSURIZED THE CABIN AND DIVERTED TO NASHVILLE. AT FIRST, NO ONE KNEW WHAT CAUSED THE BANG, BUT THE #4 FLT ATTENDANT, AFTER NOTIFYING THE CAPT OF THE NOISE, HAPPENED TO NOTICE IT. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY IS THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN SHOULD HAVE BEEN TURNED ON. I KEPT WAITING FOR THE CAPT TO TURN IT ON AFTER LEARNING OF THE CRACK. I LATER REALIZED I COULD'VE JUST STUCK MY HEAD IN THE COCKPIT AND ASKED THEM TO TURN IT ON. OF COURSE, HE DID TURN IT ON. BUT I COULD'VE ASKED FOR IT SOONER. I WOULD'VE FELT BETTER AND I'M SURE THE PAX WOULD'VE ALSO. THE GUYS GET BUSY UP THERE.
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.