Condor A320 near Dusseldorf on Jul 8th 2016, problems with cabin pressure

Last Update: January 23, 2020 / 16:24:05 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Condor D-AICF, Airbus A320 — Condor D-AICF, Airbus A320 (Photo credit: oliver.holzbauer / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 8, 2016

Classification
Incident

Airline
Condor

Flight number
DE-1436

Departure
Berlin Schoenefeld, Germany

Destination
Tenerife South, Spain

Aircraft Registration
D-AICF

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320

ICAO Type Designator
A320

A Condor Airbus A320-200, registration D-AICF performing flight DE-1436 from Berlin Schoenefeld (Germany) to Tenerife South,CI (Spain) with 178 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL350 about 20nm west of Paris (France) when the crew initiated a descent to FL300 reporting problems with the cabin pressure. The crew decided to turn around and divert to Dusseldorf (about 220nm northeast of their present position). The aircraft performed a normal approach and landed safely on Dusseldorf's runway 23L about 50 minutes after leaving FL350.

The airline reported problems with the cabin pressure causing a number of passengers to feel pressure on their ears, however, oxygen masks were not necessary.

A replacement Boeing 757-300 registration D-ABOJ departed Dusseldorf the following day and reached Tenerife with a delay of 21 hours.

The occurrence aircraft was still on the ground in Dusseldorf 31 hours after landing.

Germany's BFU rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation into the loss of cabin pressure.

On Nov 23rd 2016 the BFU released their July bulletin reporting the captain (56, ATPL, approx. 15,800 hours total, approx. 2,200 hours on type) was pilot flying, the first officer (34, ATPL, approx. 4,000 hours total, approx. 3,000 hours on type) was pilot monitoring. The aircraft was enroute at FL350 near Paris when the first officer observed a rise of cabin altitude and informed the captain. The cabin altitude climbed through about 9000 feet prompting an ECAM cabin pressure advisory. The crew worked the related checklists, the first officer selected the air conditioning mode to manual control and attempted to regulate the cabin altitude that way, however, the altitude climbed further reaching 11,000 feet at which point ECAM generated a cabin pressure warning. The crew donned their oxygen masks, declared emergency and initiated an emergency descent to FL120 turning slightly off the airway and observing their TCAS display to avoid conflict with other aircraft. ATC approved the new heading and descent. The crew stopped the descent at FL300 after the cabin altitude could be stabilized at 6500 feet, in coordination with the captain the first officer selected the outflow pressure valve control back to automatic. The crew advised ATC they were having problems with the bleed air systems, the cabin altitude problem had been brought under control, the crew decided to divert to Dusseldorf.

The BFU reported that the aircraft had been dispatched under minimum equipment list requirements with the bleed air system #2 inoperative.

The BFU reported that in cruise flight at FL350 the pressure regulating valve (PRV) failed, in addition a thermostat solenoid developed a fault. The combination of both faults caused pressure fluctuations in the #1 bleed air system resulting in the rise of cabin altitude and subsequent cabin pressure warning. At that point none of the bleed air systems supplied the air conditioning systems. The investigation is ongoing.

On Jan 23rd 2020 the BFU released their final factual report without released a conclusion.

The BFU reported following findings on the aircraft: "The maintenance organisation of the operator examined the left engine and identified the damaged Solenoid Thermostat and an incorrect functioning pressure regulating valve as cause for the failure. Both components were replaced. The maintenance organisation provided the BFU with the documentation regarding the maintenance actions conducted. "