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A B757-200's pressurization failed to function climbing through FL360. An emergency descent was begun at FL377 with a cabin altitude of 10000 ft. The crew returned to the departure airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 812494 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200811 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 37700 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 769 |
| ASRS Report | 812494 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2100 |
| ASRS Report | 812493 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cabin alt other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Climbing through approximately FL365; the captain's ears popped and he directed his attention to the pressurization panel. He brought me into the loop and we both observed a low differential pressure combined with high cabin altitude and climbing at 700 FPM. At this point cabin altitude was around 7000 ft. As it continued to climb; we asked to level off and started to troubleshoot switching from automatic #1 to automatic #2. That did not help. At this time we notified the flight attendants to be seated. After putting the masks on; we declared an emergency and started our descent. ATC issued a turn and an initial descent to FL240. In the descent; we performed the cabin altitude rapid depressurization checklist and emergency descent checklist. Once we were established down and the cabin was following suit; we told ATC we wanted to return to ZZZ. Normal approach and landing from that point on. Supplemental information from acn 812493: first officer notified flight attendants we were going to descend and to take their seats. Cabin altitude was climbing through 9000 ft. In descent; we received the cabin altitude warning.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B757-200'S PRESSURIZATION FAILED TO FUNCTION CLIMBING THROUGH FL360. AN EMERGENCY DESCENT WAS BEGUN AT FL377 WITH A CABIN ALTITUDE OF 10000 FT. THE CREW RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.
Narrative: CLBING THROUGH APPROX FL365; THE CAPT'S EARS POPPED AND HE DIRECTED HIS ATTN TO THE PRESSURIZATION PANEL. HE BROUGHT ME INTO THE LOOP AND WE BOTH OBSERVED A LOW DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE COMBINED WITH HIGH CABIN ALT AND CLBING AT 700 FPM. AT THIS POINT CABIN ALT WAS AROUND 7000 FT. AS IT CONTINUED TO CLB; WE ASKED TO LEVEL OFF AND STARTED TO TROUBLESHOOT SWITCHING FROM AUTO #1 TO AUTO #2. THAT DID NOT HELP. AT THIS TIME WE NOTIFIED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO BE SEATED. AFTER PUTTING THE MASKS ON; WE DECLARED AN EMER AND STARTED OUR DSCNT. ATC ISSUED A TURN AND AN INITIAL DSCNT TO FL240. IN THE DSCNT; WE PERFORMED THE CABIN ALT RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION CHKLIST AND EMER DSCNT CHKLIST. ONCE WE WERE ESTABLISHED DOWN AND THE CABIN WAS FOLLOWING SUIT; WE TOLD ATC WE WANTED TO RETURN TO ZZZ. NORMAL APCH AND LNDG FROM THAT POINT ON. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 812493: FO NOTIFIED FLT ATTENDANTS WE WERE GOING TO DSND AND TO TAKE THEIR SEATS. CABIN ALT WAS CLBING THROUGH 9000 FT. IN DSCNT; WE RECEIVED THE CABIN ALT WARNING.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.