A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification; Time Pressure; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Captain flying [was] climbing out at altitude 5;000 FT. We got AIR ENG 1 BLEED FAULT ECAM. Pilot flying ECAM action then went to the COM. That was completed we climbed up to FL390 we reached cruise and about 5 minutes later got the AIR ENG 2 BLEED FAULT ECAM message. Performed that ECAM and within a few seconds the cabin started climbing. We both put our oxygen masks on and we asked for FL180 descent as we started down we got the CABIN EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ECAM warning and immediately started and emergency descent to FL100 (10;000 FT) we declared emergency ATC asked what our intentions were and we told them we will get back to them. We elected to do a high speed descent as there appeared to be no structural damage. I as pilot not flying performed the ECAM actions and went to the COM to finish up the procedure and even performed the Emergency Descent section just to make sure everything was covered. At 10;000 FT we came off our oxygen masks we notified Center about returning back to the departure airport as we had a lot of fuel; great weather conditions an it being home base. We notified Center Fuel remaining; souls on board and requested a present position direct to the Airport. We notified the flight attendants that we were returning; we asked them how the condition of the cabin was if there was any damage and how the passengers were. Lead Flight Attendant notified us a female had to be administered portable oxygen. This lady had an asthmatic condition apparently. We notified Center that emergency assistance would not be required as their appeared to be no structural damage. We called notified Dispatch of our condition and told them we were returning and no Emergency Assistance was required. We however told them we needed medical assistance with the passenger who was ill called in range notified Operations of the medical assistance. We elected to land on 27R as it was quicker and a straight in approach and calm winds. Landed and taxied to the gate were we parked and shut down and Maintenance and paramedics met us at the gate. I just want to give thanks and praises to my Captain who did an outstanding job at the time. Great CRM and well handled.
It was crazy because we could feel the plane flying funny and we were all in the front an I said do you guys feel that and then our ears started popping really bad so I put my ear to the cockpit door and I heard chimes and the plane saying descend so the other Flight Attendant said do you think it is a decompression and boom all the masks dropped. At first we were in shock but we automatically grabbed our masks and sat down not knowing if we were going to descend fast or not. The pilots never said anything to us. We had to turn the lights to bright and I was giving instructions over the PA because the automatic announcement was very delayed and it was so low you could barely hear it. We got our POB on and went through the cabin making sure everyone's masks were working and trying to keep them calm it wasn't till after all that we heard the 3 hi lo chimes from the Captain and the announcement started playing. Eventually they called and said it was rapid but that we were at 10;000 FT and could remove our masks. The cabin was like 90 degrees because the bottles were very hot and there was an air pack broken because the aircraft was never working properly from takeoff. A lot of people were freaking out because they didn't speak English but we stayed calm handed out bottles of water and administered POB to 2 asthmatic people. We all did a good job and everyone said we made them feel comfortable and safe. We did have one jerk that refused to turn off his electronics. We kept saying to turn everything off because the oxygen bottles are flammable and he refused and started yelling at us that we don't know what were talking about and he tried putting his oxygen masks back in the unit and I had to pry it open again needless to say passengers around him started yelling at him and we called for the police and paramedics when we landed. And you know Maintenance had the nerve to ask if we pulled all the masks as if annoyed that we gave them more work to do! We were like this wasn't a false depressurization it was real because we all got headaches and vision started to burr. The only thing that I find strange is that plane was on the ground all day from our last redeye the night before it never left so they must have been working on it an the air pack was definitely broken because the temperature was doing whatever it felt like doing. So I have a feeling they knew something was wrong with that plane. But they sent it out anyway. So it was scary but I'm glad I had a good crew and we were all fine. I documented this aircraft with an issue with a Captain four months ago and nothing was ever done about it. We could start by taking the flight attendants safety concerns seriously for starters when they report an issue to the cockpit. I told him about that door seal problem; the vibrations and the excessive hear that never cooled down due to the broken packs.
An A319 had an AIR ENG 1 BLEED FAULT ECAM during climb after takeoff and then at FL390 an AIR ENG 2 BLEED FAULT ECAM so as the cabin depressurized an emergency was declared while descending and returning to the departure airport.