MD-11 Captain reported loss of #1 and #2 air systems in cruise and elected to perform an air turnback and precautionary landing at departure airport.
Synopsis
MD-11 Captain reported loss of #1 and #2 air systems in cruise and elected to perform an air turnback and precautionary landing at departure airport.
Narrative
[We were] in flight diversion; with return to ZZZZ after SATCOM consultation with Dispatcher; Duty Officer; and Maintenance Control. Safety report [is] required for diversion; but attempted to file this report as it covers both. But; I was unable to file it on my iPad as each time I came to a date pop-up field; the pop-up would immediately disappear and I was unable to enter any pop-up fields manually. This has to be fixed. It's essential to be able to file a [report] off our iPads and the ability to do so should be investigated. I'm home and doing this off my desktop. This was my maintenance write-up and is self-explanatory: Approximately takeoff plus 1 hour; received a Level 1 AIR SYS 2 OFF alert. Noted a red MANF (Manifold) light on overhead panel for Air System 2 and a red flow line for the tail anti-ice on air synoptic page. Within seconds; the air flow line for System 2 also turned red. About 10 seconds later; noted red Pack Number 1 symbol on air synoptic; then received a Level 1 AIR SYS 1 OFF alert and noted a red MANF light for Air System 1 on overhead air panel. Shortly thereafter; received a Level 1 SEL AIR SYS MAN alert; followed QRH and selected Air System to manual. After about 9 minutes; red Pack System 1 returned to normal; red tail anti-ice flow line disappeared; and red MANF Number 1 System extinguished. Red flow line for System 2 remained on air synoptic. About 1 minute later; that red flow line on System 2 synoptic returned to normal and red MANF Air System 2 extinguished. Remained in AIR SYS MANUAL with Air Systems 1 and 2 off for remainder of flight. Conferenced SATCOM with Dispatch; Duty Officer; and Maintenance; and returned to ZZZZ.Maintenance solution to write-up: During inspection of Center Cargo Jet Pump Shut-off Valve; found leaks at tee fitting of the shut-off valve. Re-tighten tee fitting per AMM (Aircraft Maintenance Manual) 21-XX-XX-X; no more leaks. Also performed decay test with APU per AMM 36-YY-YY-Y. Found satisfactory. Aircraft OK for service.The puzzling thing about this was both Air Systems 1 and 2 shut off with no QRH procedure to cover both systems affected. Even with conference call; we were unable to figure out the common reason for both systems to be affected. Returned to ZZZZ as we all felt that if the third and last air system went out; we would be in a difficult situation over ZZZZ with limited options.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.