A CPR JET AT FL370 EXPERIENCED A RAPID DECOMPRESSION. PLT DONNED OXYGEN MASK; DECLARED EMER AND ADVISED THE ARTCC CTLR THAT HE WAS EXECUTING AN EMER DSCNT. THE RADAR CTLR GAVE THE CPR JET TFC INFO ON AN ACR DC9 AT FL290 AND WHEN THE CPR JET WAS AT 11000 FT HE WAS ASKED TO CALL THE ARTCC. THE ARTCC SUPVR JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RPTR WAS OK AND SAID THAT THE DC9 GOT A TCASII AS THE CPR JET WENT THROUGH HIS ALT. THE RPTR WAS CRITICAL OF THE CTLR BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TURN THE DC9.

Date: 1997-02 · Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|conflict-airborne-conflict|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-other-unknown

Synopsis

A CPR JET AT FL370 EXPERIENCED A RAPID DECOMPRESSION. PLT DONNED OXYGEN MASK; DECLARED EMER AND ADVISED THE ARTCC CTLR THAT HE WAS EXECUTING AN EMER DSCNT. THE RADAR CTLR GAVE THE CPR JET TFC INFO ON AN ACR DC9 AT FL290 AND WHEN THE CPR JET WAS AT 11000 FT HE WAS ASKED TO CALL THE ARTCC. THE ARTCC SUPVR JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RPTR WAS OK AND SAID THAT THE DC9 GOT A TCASII AS THE CPR JET WENT THROUGH HIS ALT. THE RPTR WAS CRITICAL OF THE CTLR BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TURN THE DC9.

Narrative

I WAS ENRTE FROM SGF TO CXU DIRECT CRUISING AT FL370 WHEN I EXPERIENCED RAPID DECOMPRESSION. I DONNED MY OXYGEN MASK AND IMMEDIATELY DECLARED AN EMER WITH ZTL AND TOLD THEM I WAS EXECUTING AN EMER DSCNT IMMEDIATELY. THE CTLR TOLD ME THERE WAS TFC AT MY 1 - 1:30 O'CLOCK POS; A DC9 AT FL290. I TOLD HIM 'NO JOY' AND THAT I WAS PASSING THROUGH FL290 AT THIS TIME AS MY DSCNT RATE WAS APPROX 12000 FPM. I DSNDED TO 11000 FT AND THE CTLR TOLD ME TO CALL HIM WHEN I GOT ON THE GND; AND GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER. I CALLED THE NUMBER AFTER I LANDED AT CXU AND HE ANSWERED THE PHONE AS 'ATLANTA WATCH SUPVR.' I TOLD HIM WHO I WAS AND HE SAID 'THERE WAS A DC9 AT FL330; 4 1/2 MI FROM YOU AND IT SET OFF AN ALARM BUT THE DC9 PLT DIDN'T SEE YOU -- YOU DIDN'T SEE HIM; NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN SO NO PAPERWORK IS NECESSARY; BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR PAX ARE OK; THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR FOR CALLING BACK.' I BELIEVE WHAT CAUSED THE PROB WAS THE CTLR'S FAILURE TO TURN THE DC9 IMMEDIATELY WHEN I DECLARED AN EMER AND TOLD THEM I WAS EXECUTING AN EMER DSCNT IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE THE PROB CAN BE CORRECTED IN THE FUTURE IF THE CTLRS WILL ACT ON TURNING TFC AWAY FROM AN ACFT'S FLT PATH THAT HAS AN EMER IN PROGRESS THE INSTANT THE ACFT IN DISTRESS DECLARES AN EMER AS THE ACFT WITH AN EMER IN PROGRESS ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OVER TFC WITH NO EMER IN PROGRESS.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.