EMB 145 flight crew reported loss of cabin pressure control on climb. The flight crew immediately requested a descent and decided to perform an air turnback.
Synopsis
EMB 145 flight crew reported loss of cabin pressure control on climb. The flight crew immediately requested a descent and decided to perform an air turnback.
Narrative
We were departing ZZZ for ZZZZ and during climb we were level at FL260. ATC assigned us a climb to our filed TOC (Top of Climb) of FL280. During the climb I noticed the cabin altitude at 8000 at and around 5.6 or so PSI. I immediately asked to return to FL260 initially because the cabin wasn't climbing faster than our climb rate. As we descended; the cabin continued to slowly climb so I requested descent to 10000.FO (First Officer) was told to descend but was slow to respond. I took control and began a descent to 10000 and notified the FA (Flight Attendant) [the] FO was doing the QRH for cabin depressurization. Cabin aural sounded and we donned O2. The cabin wasn't depressurizing too quickly so we were able to match the rate and the cabin stabilized at 12600. Cabin masks did not drop. We leveled at 10000; notified Dispatch; and returned to ZZZ for normal landing. We obtained [a] new plane and completed our sequence.[I suggest to] get practice with actually donning mask. It's not as easy as it seems with headsets. Suspected E2 Bleed leak is was Maintenance said. Plane has history.
Second reporter narrative
After departing from ZZZ on our way to ZZZZ; we were given an altitude of FL260 at one point. After we were instructed to climb to FL280; around FL270 the Captain acknowledged the cabin altitude and said; Look at the cabin altitude." Then; Captain requested a descent to FL260. And approximately 20 seconds later he requested a descent to 10000 ft. After that I was not quick enough on the descent; so the Captain took control of the airplane and the communications and ordered me to look up in the QRH for cabin depressurization. I read the QRH and performed the procedure before reaching 10000 ft. At around 10000 ft; Captain requested to turn back to ZZZ. Cabin altitude never passed 12600 ft. We returned back to ZZZ as Captain pilot flying and I as pilot monitoring.I suggest to have more practice on using the quick donning mask because it could be tricky to wear it. Also practice the use to wear the mask with headset and glasses on.Pressurization failure."
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.