MD80 ENCOUNTERS GRADUAL LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE. DESCEND IN STAGES TO 10000 MSL AND CONTINUE TO DESTINATION.
Synopsis
MD80 ENCOUNTERS GRADUAL LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE. DESCEND IN STAGES TO 10000 MSL AND CONTINUE TO DESTINATION.
Narrative
LEVELED OFF AT FL370; HAVING JUST AVOIDED A LINE OF WX E OF SAT; ENRTE TO ATL. NOTICED 'FLOW' LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON OVERHEAD PANEL; ALONG WITH A SMALL CLB RATE ON CABIN VSI. TURNED OFF ENG ANTI-ICE AND GOT SMALL IMPROVEMENT; BUT CABIN CONTINUED TO CLB SLOWLY. DSNDED TO FL330; AND CABIN BEGAN MUCH GREATER CLB WHEN PWR REDUCED FOR DSCNT. LEVEL AT FL330; STILL SLOW CABIN CLB. RAN THROUGH LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURIZATION MEMORY ITEMS AND THEN CHKLIST; WHICH INCLUDED DONNING OXYGEN MASKS. THOUGHT WE MAY HAVE A PACK FAIL; SO DSNDED TO FL250. CABIN CONTINUED TO CLB AND WAS APCHING 10000 FT. GOT CLRNC DOWN TO 11000 FT; THEN 10000 FT AND INITIATED EMER DSCNT PROFILE. GOT TO 10000 FT QUICKLY AND UNEVENTFULLY; WITH MAX CABIN ALT APPROX 11500 FT. PAX MASKS DID NOT DEPLOY. AT 10000 FT; SMALL DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED AND CABIN WAS COMFORTABLE AT ABOUT 4000 FT MSL. MADE SURE NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT; CONFERRED WITH DISPATCH AND MAINT CTL. THANKFULLY; WE HAD A LOT OF FUEL AND WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ATL WITH LEGAL FUEL RESERVES. ON CHKING WITH MAINT AFTERWARDS; SEEMED LIKE A DUCT HAD PARTIALLY RUPTURED DOWNSTREAM OF 1 AC PACK.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.