MD80 flight crew deployed the passenger oxygen masks because of pressurization problems.

Attributes
ACN	553246
Time
Date	200207
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zab.artcc
State Reference	NM
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : 3
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 11 flight attendant time total : 14 flight attendant time type : 100
ASRS Report	553246
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical cabin event other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : pressurization/hydraulics/air conditioning other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Had leveled off and had just taken the cart out to begin our beverage service. Service is completed forward to aft, so we had just moved the cart to the front of main cabin, at about row 9. Both flight attendant #4 and myself noticed a fogginess in the cabin. We then began a descent. The oxygen masks dropped, we angled the cart for support, and took oxygen from the nearest passenger seats. At first, not a single passenger donned their masks. Those that tried, complained they were receiving no oxygen because their bag did not inflate. We assured them they were. Both the captain and flight attendant #1 made announcements. The mask deployment was precautionary, but oxygen was available, if needed. We returned the cart to the galley, checking on passenger as we moved to the back. We had an uneventful landing back into abq, we were back on the ground at XA55 local. Total airborne time was 1 hour. Deplaned and aircraft was taken OTS. Afterwards, the captain spoke of having problems with many different things. I believe: 1) hydraulics, 2) the cooling/heating system, and 3) pressurization. There were no injuries. Due to the pressurization problems, the captain deployed the oxygen masks as a precautionary measure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC DEPLOYED THE PAX OXYGEN MASKS BECAUSE OF PRESSURIZATION PROBS.

Narrative: HAD LEVELED OFF AND HAD JUST TAKEN THE CART OUT TO BEGIN OUR BEVERAGE SVC. SVC IS COMPLETED FORWARD TO AFT, SO WE HAD JUST MOVED THE CART TO THE FRONT OF MAIN CABIN, AT ABOUT ROW 9. BOTH FLT ATTENDANT #4 AND MYSELF NOTICED A FOGGINESS IN THE CABIN. WE THEN BEGAN A DSCNT. THE OXYGEN MASKS DROPPED, WE ANGLED THE CART FOR SUPPORT, AND TOOK OXYGEN FROM THE NEAREST PAX SEATS. AT FIRST, NOT A SINGLE PAX DONNED THEIR MASKS. THOSE THAT TRIED, COMPLAINED THEY WERE RECEIVING NO OXYGEN BECAUSE THEIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. WE ASSURED THEM THEY WERE. BOTH THE CAPT AND FLT ATTENDANT #1 MADE ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE MASK DEPLOYMENT WAS PRECAUTIONARY, BUT OXYGEN WAS AVAILABLE, IF NEEDED. WE RETURNED THE CART TO THE GALLEY, CHKING ON PAX AS WE MOVED TO THE BACK. WE HAD AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG BACK INTO ABQ, WE WERE BACK ON THE GND AT XA55 LCL. TOTAL AIRBORNE TIME WAS 1 HR. DEPLANED AND ACFT WAS TAKEN OTS. AFTERWARDS, THE CAPT SPOKE OF HAVING PROBS WITH MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. I BELIEVE: 1) HYDS, 2) THE COOLING/HEATING SYS, AND 3) PRESSURIZATION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. DUE TO THE PRESSURIZATION PROBS, THE CAPT DEPLOYED THE OXYGEN MASKS AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.

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.