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A B737-300 in cruise at FL330 diverted due to gradual loss of cabin pressure caused by a combination of #2 engine low bleed pressure and leaky door seals.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 542936 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200203 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : ric.airport |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Turbulence |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc tower : zzz1.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-300 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level descent : intermediate altitude descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 17647 flight time type : 6681 |
| ASRS Report | 542936 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cabin alt. indicator other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
While deviating around WX in the richmond area, the altitude warning horn sounded. Cabin altitude was observed to be slightly above 10000 ft and climbing at about 800-1000 FPM. Oxygen masks were donned and a lower altitude was requested. Checklist was completed. At first, cabin was not ctlable, but passing FL200 cabin was under control. Cabin altitude was 15000 ft and masks were dropped automatically and activated by passenger. During descent. Passenger and flight attendants were briefed. A decision was made to deviate to richmond and an uneventful approach and landing was made. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated on checking with maintenance the gradual loss of cabin pressure was reported to be several leaking cabin and cargo door seals and low pneumatic pressure from #2 engine. The reporter said the passenger masks did deploy.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-300 IN CRUISE AT FL330 DIVERTED DUE TO GRADUAL LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF #2 ENG LOW BLEED PRESSURE AND LEAKY DOOR SEALS.
Narrative: WHILE DEVIATING AROUND WX IN THE RICHMOND AREA, THE ALT WARNING HORN SOUNDED. CABIN ALT WAS OBSERVED TO BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE 10000 FT AND CLBING AT ABOUT 800-1000 FPM. OXYGEN MASKS WERE DONNED AND A LOWER ALT WAS REQUESTED. CHKLIST WAS COMPLETED. AT FIRST, CABIN WAS NOT CTLABLE, BUT PASSING FL200 CABIN WAS UNDER CTL. CABIN ALT WAS 15000 FT AND MASKS WERE DROPPED AUTOMATICALLY AND ACTIVATED BY PAX. DURING DSCNT. PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS WERE BRIEFED. A DECISION WAS MADE TO DEVIATE TO RICHMOND AND AN UNEVENTFUL APCH AND LNDG WAS MADE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED ON CHKING WITH MAINT THE GRADUAL LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE WAS RPTED TO BE SEVERAL LEAKING CABIN AND CARGO DOOR SEALS AND LOW PNEUMATIC PRESSURE FROM #2 ENG. THE RPTR SAID THE PAX MASKS DID DEPLOY.
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.