Star Cargo B733 near Port Elizabeth on May 4th 2018, loss of cabin pressure
Last Update: September 15, 2018 / 17:56:24 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
May 4, 2018
Classification
Incident
Cause
Loss of cabin pressure
Airline
Star Air Cargo
Flight number
JE-536
Departure
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Destination
Johannesburg, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ZS-VDP
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-300
ICAO Type Designator
B733
South Africa's CAA (SACAA) reported a cabin pressure controller was replaced. Two investigators were dispatched to investigate the occurrence.
On Sep 15th 2018 the SACAA released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:
The primary cause of the loss of pressurisation control was due to a loss of the CPC’s ability to correctly modulate the outflow valve position.
The secondary cause of the pressurisation failure, which caused the high cabin pressure differential, was due to the failure of both pressure relief valves. Neither of these valves opened at 8,3 psi to ensure that the cabin differential did not exceed the amber band.
The SACAA reported the aircraft was climbing to its assigned enroute flight level out of Port Elizabeth when the crew noticed the cabin altitude remained at 230 feet (elevation of Port Elizabeth) with the rate of pressure change indication remaining at zero. The crew performed fault finding, as result they turned the rotary switch for the pressurization control from AUTO to STBY. The outflow valve moved to the full open position causing the cabin to depressurize while the aircraft was climbing through FL230. The passenger oxygen masks were released (6 passenger service units did not open). The crew initiated a rapid descent to FL100, requested to return to Port Elizabeth and landed safely back.
The SACAA reported that the cabin pressure controller was replaced, thereafter the function of the outflow valve and pressurization system was normal.
The SACAA analysed: "The investigation revealed that the Cabin Pressure Controller (CPC) had failed to modulate the outflow valve to maintain the correct pressure schedule and the failure of the safety valves to open and relief pressure at 8.3Psi differential."
Incident Facts
Date of incident
May 4, 2018
Classification
Incident
Cause
Loss of cabin pressure
Airline
Star Air Cargo
Flight number
JE-536
Departure
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Destination
Johannesburg, South Africa
Aircraft Registration
ZS-VDP
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-300
ICAO Type Designator
B733
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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