A320 flight crew experiences cabin pressure anomalies during initial climb and levels off at 10;000 FT with the cabin unpressurized and the outflow valve stuck at 3/4 open. The crew elects to continue to destination at 10;000 FT and lands with 5;300 LBS of fuel.
Synopsis
A320 flight crew experiences cabin pressure anomalies during initial climb and levels off at 10;000 FT with the cabin unpressurized and the outflow valve stuck at 3/4 open. The crew elects to continue to destination at 10;000 FT and lands with 5;300 LBS of fuel.
Narrative
On liftoff; Captain noticed a lot of ear clearing and then a loss of CAB SYS 2 ECAM in amber. One minute later; loss of CAB SYS 1 on ECAM (we were climbing through 8;200 MSL). [We] elected to shallow climb to get into CAB PR (1+2) irregular procedure. [We] did all items in checklist. When switching to MAN cabin mode selector; MAN illuminated + FAULT on the switch. Placed MAN V/S control down and outflow valve moved minimally and closed to the 3/4 closed position and no other movement. Called Dispatch and phone patch to Maintenance. Dispatch and Captain figured FOB (Fuel On Board) landing at destination at 4.9 LBS traveling at 10;000 FT MSL. Maintenance Control asked Captain to use Emergency Authority to pull and reset Y23 circuit breaker for 'CTRL MAN.' Captain elected not to pull and reset Y23 circuit breaker due to not knowing if that would bring the cabin altitude down too quickly. Captain decided to press on to our destination at 10;000 FT MSL with concurrence of Dispatch. No oxygen masks deployed or oxygen used on board in the cabin. Dispatch was to alert all ATC agencies we were to travel to our destination at 10;000 FT MSL. Captain notified Flight Attendants to monitor passenger for breathing difficulties and to monitor passenger from going near the doors due to being unpressurized and possibly being able to open doors in flight. Captain and Dispatch did not declare emergency with ATC. Reached our destination and landed with 5.3 LBS of FOB and no other incidence. First Officer did a great job flying the aircraft and coordinating with ATC during the irregularity. Captain decided since there was no hull damage; minimal mechanical problems and no passenger abnormalities to continue to our destination.
Second reporter narrative
I was the flying pilot and climbing out of 5;000 FT we got an ECAM - CAB PR 2 fault. The Captain handled the ECAM and I kept flying the airplane and handled the radios. After about 45 seconds we got a second ECAM; CAB PR (1+2) Fault. At this time the Captain stated that she was unable to control the cabin altitude with the manual pressurization controller and that we were climbing unpressurized. We were now climbing out of about 7;500 FT and I asked ATC for a slow climb; and to level off at 10;000 FT; which was given. We did a quick check of the cabin alt and it was climbing as we were climbing. We leveled at 10;000 FT and looked at our fuel. We had a discussion; determined that it would be safe and that we had enough fuel to continue on to our destination.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.