Incident Overview
On 27 August 2017, a TACA Peru Airbus A320-233, registration N491TA, operated by Trans American Air Lines, was involved in a serious incident during a flight from Lima to Piura. The aircraft had been dispatched with Pack 2 deferred due to an overheat condition under MEL item 21-52-01-4. The flight carried 6 crew members and 128 passengers.
Sequence of Events
After takeoff and climb, while passing Flight Level 340 at 17:27:21 local time, the crew received an ECAM alert indicating AIR ENG BLEED 1 FAULT. The crew leveled off and began reviewing the Quick Reference Handbook. The cabin began to depressurize slowly. The crew requested ATC clearance for descent and a return to Lima, and initiated cabin security procedures.
During a left turn in the descent, the CAB PR EXCESS CAB ALT ECAM activated. The crew immediately declared an emergency and commenced an emergency descent at 17:32:31. Passengers and crew donned oxygen masks; however, the masks for cabin crew members 1 and 3 did not deploy. The descent rate reached 6,000 feet per minute, during which additional ECAM alerts appeared: CAB PR LO DIFF PR, DOOR L AFT CABIN, and CABIN PR SAFETY VALVE OPEN.
Upon reaching 8,000 feet, the crew leveled the aircraft and instructed passengers to remove masks. They performed procedures to restore the AIR ENG BLEED 1 system, which successfully re-established cabin pressurization. Cabin temperature, which had risen to 29°C, decreased.
Aftermath
The approach, landing, and disembarkation proceeded without further incident. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The aircraft was subsequently inspected by the designated maintenance organization and investigated by the Peruvian Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) to determine the failed components.
Investigation
The CIAA initiated an investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. Investigators interviewed the flight and cabin crew separately, analyzed the flight data recorder, and coordinated with the French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) as the state of design. The operator submitted an internal SMS report and maintenance records. Simulator tests were conducted to evaluate operational procedures. Preliminary safety recommendations were issued to the national aviation authority to prevent recurrence. The investigation remained ongoing at the time of the provisional report.