CE441 PLT HAS LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION; DECLARES AN EMER.

Narrative

I WAS FLYING AT FL290; WHEN SUDDENLY I NOTICED A POPPING IN MY EARS. RIGHT AWAY I LOOKED AT THE PRESSURIZATION AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CABIN PRESSURE WAS INCREASING RAPIDLY; AND THE RATE WAS INDICATING A DECREASE IN THE PRESSURIZATION. I ADVISED CTR THAT I NEEDED AN EMER DSCNT. THEY ADVISED ME OF A CONFLICT IN FRONT OF US AT FL280 AND THEY IMMEDIATELY GAVE US A TURN TO 040 DEGS TO AVOID ANY CONFLICT AND THEY CLRED US TO ANY ALT THAT WE NEEDED. I INITIATED A TURN FROM 005 DEGS TO 040 DEGS TO AVOID THE TFC AND A DSCNT TO 12000 FT; WHERE WE REGAINED NORMAL CABIN ALT OF ABOUT 9000 FT. AFTER COMPLETING ALL THE PUBLISHED EMER PROCS; AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED; WE ADVISED CTR OF THE SIT AND REQUESTED BACK ON COURSE TO ELKHART; IN (OUR FINAL DEST). THE MECH NEXT DAY WAS INFORMED OF THE ANOMALY. AFTER A FEW HRS; HE FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS A WIRE GOING TO THE VALVE ATTACHED AT THE AIR CYCLE MACHINE. THIS VALVE CTLS THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURIZATION THAT GOES INTO THE AIR CYCLE MACHINE. APPARENTLY; THE WIRE GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE AIR CYCLE MACHINE AND MELTED; WHICH CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRE AND SHUT THE VALVE OFF. EVERYTHING WORKED PROPERLY; THE MASKS WERE DEPLOYED AUTOMATICALLY; AND OXYGEN FLOW WAS INDICATED.