Introduction
On an unspecified date, an Embraer 145 LR (registration 9G-AET) operated by Africa World Airline (AWA) was conducting a scheduled domestic flight from Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Ghana. During the climb phase, the cabin altitude warning activated, indicating a loss of pressurization.
Incident Details
The flight deck crew (FDC) immediately donned their oxygen masks and initiated an emergency descent in accordance with established procedures. The aircraft landed safely back at KIA. No injuries or damage were reported. The occurrence was classified as a serious incident by the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana).
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was an Embraer 145 LR, a regional jet. The investigation did not specify the aircraft's age, total flight hours, or maintenance history beyond the relevant systems.
Investigation Findings
Post-incident inspections and testing focused on the aircraft's pressurization and bleed air systems. Tests were conducted on the wing anti-icing valve, bleed #2 valve, bleed #1 valve, and the cabin oxygen generator. The investigation identified defects in certain bleed air valves that could reduce the air supply to the cabin. However, the report did not explicitly state a single cause for the pressurization loss.
Safety Actions
Following the incident, the operator and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) implemented safety actions. The report includes safety recommendations directed at the regulator and the operator, though specific details of these actions were not provided in the excerpt.
Conclusion
The investigation concluded that the serious incident involved a loss of cabin pressurization requiring an emergency descent. The report listed contributory factors but did not assign a definitive probable cause. The aircraft's quick reference handbook (QRH) procedures were correctly followed by the crew.