IAI1124/1124A Westwind
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 900
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We were level in cruise at FL360 when we felt a pressure fluctuation in the cabin of the aircraft. That feeling was reinforced by the cabin gauge showing a climb. After an uncomfortable amount of time had passed without the system returning to normal; we initiated a rapid descent to higher pressure air and monitored the cabin for the safety of our passengers. Checklists were completed in a timely manner and all necessary items were addressed. We declared an emergency in the midst of the descent as soon as we could make contact with ATC. We were vectored to a local airport and made an uneventful landing. The flight was completed with maximum attention paid to safety and passenger comfort. The anomaly is believed to be a rare occurrence caused by a faulty weight-on-wheels switch. The aircraft was taken straight to two different maintenance facilities to have the issue addressed.
WW24 (IAI1124) First Officer describes a loss of cabin pressurization at FL360 resulting in an emergency descent and diversion for maintenance.