2023-02 · NASA ASRS report 1978294
Cessna Latitude flight crew reported cabin pressurization issues shortly after takeoff. After burning off fuel to avoid an overweight landing; the flight crew executed a safe landing back at the departure airport.
On departure from ZZZ passing through approximately 10000 ft. for 14000 ft. we got the Amber CABIN ALT Message. We got as high as 11500 ft. before we got a clearance back down to 10000 ft. At approximately 11000 ft; the Red CABIN ALT Message also illuminated momentarily and then extinguished as we got back down to 10000 ft. The CABIN ALT - EMER DESCENT QRC was accomplished. We then got clearance to 8000 ft. shortly thereafter and the Amber CABIN ALT Message went out. ATC descended us to 4000 ft. and issued us vectors on the east side of the ZZZ so that we could burn down to our maximum landing weight. At about XA23Z I called the Chief Pilot and told them the situation we were experiencing. They agreed with my plan and said that they would call again once we were on the ground back at ZZZ to check on us. I then advised the owner that we had a pressurization issue and that we needed to burn off fuel for approximately 30-40 minutes and that the company was already working on a recovery plan for them. The person was initially upset; but then quickly changed their demeanor when I explained that we were too heavy to land as we took off at approximately our maximum take-off weight; and needed to burn off about 2400 lbs. of fuel to allow for our maximum landing weight not to be exceeded. The guests asked me why we couldn't land now and I explained that in an situation such as a fire onboard that we would land regardless of a structural limitation. They all seemed to understand the situation after that. We ended up landing uneventfully at XA20Z on Runway XXR at ZZZ. Upon deplaning the passengers; they thanked me for a safe flight and understood it wasn't our fault about the pressurization issue.
On departure from ZZZ at around 6000 ft. I heard a hissing sound coming from the area near the Main Cabin Door. This was something I've never heard in the Latitude. As we climbed through roughly 8500 ft. the hissing never went away so glanced at the Cabin Alt and noticed it was at 8000 ft. and climbing at 2500 FPM. I then told the Captain that we are going to have a pressurization issue. Shortly after the Captain asked me to let ATC know we were having a pressurization issue and we needed to descend because we were still in the climb. Passing through roughly 10000 ft. the CABIN ALT CAS Message illuminated and the QRH checklist was accomplished. At approximately 11000 ft. when we started a descend the Red CABIN ALT CAS Message Illuminated momentarily then extinguished as we descended back down to 10000 ft. CABIN ALT EMERGENCY DESCENT QRC was accomplished. We then immediately got a clearance to 8000 ft. In the descent; the Amber CABIN ALT CAS Message extinguished. We then descended to 4000 ft. and were vectored around the ZZZ area to burn fuel to meet our landing weight. The rest of the flight was uneventful.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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