2022-07 · NASA ASRS report 1913554
EMB135 flight crew reported the aircraft failed to maintain cabin pressure during climbout resulting in a return to the departure airport. Reportedly; Pack 1 shutdown with no indications; followed by Pack 2 which also shutdown causing the pressurization issues.
During climbout; aircraft pressurization (Px) system failed to maintain scheduled cabin altitude. Max cabin altitude was 12;500 displayed on EICAS with associated aural warnings. Flight crew upon noticing a rapid increase to indicated cabin altitude initiated an ATC coordinated level off to FL250 then lower in increments to 10;000 feet. Flight crew [requested priority handling] and returned to departure airport. During taxi out to runway; cabin crew had alerted pilots to a loud bang from the left side of the aircraft and both packs were cycled out of caution with no abnormal indications. Upon climbout however; flight crew got two indications of pack #2 valve closure and then finally the rapid cabin altitude climb. ATC vectored to final and a normal landing was accomplished. No other assistance was needed upon landing.Cause - Aircraft pack 1 shut down with no indications and aircraft forced pack 2 to shut down for some reason. Thusly; no air was being fed into the cabin. Upon landing and maintenance discussion; Pack 1 blew a hose clamp and a hose away from feeding pack 1.
We were climbing on the departure and we got a pack 2 valve close EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) message. We followed the QRH and reset the valve and the message went away. We were notified by the Flight Attendant she had heard a loud whoosh sound. We figured this was associated with the pack valve message we saw. The pack valve 2 closed message came on a second time. We were then passing through FL230 and requested FL250 per the QRH and aircraft limitation. A couple minutes later the pressurization of the aircraft began rising and we quickly requested a descent to lower altitude which was followed by a request to turn back and return towards ZZZ1. We [requested priority handling] after the cabin altitude climbed above 10;000 feet and warning alarms range out. The cabin altitude reached as high as 12;500 [ft]. We requested vectors to final and flew the ILS for XXR into ZZZ1.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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