Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
We previously returned to the field due to an L Bleed Duct Warning. On this flight First Officer had a normal takeoff. At about 9;500-10;000 FT we received an R Bleed Duct Warning message on EICAS. We canceled and identified the message. The First Officer maintained the flight controls with the autopilot on and took the radios. I referenced the QRH for R Bleed Duct Warning. The first thing I saw in the QRH under R Bleed Duct was that after 30 seconds the aircraft would unpressurized and I completed the QRH procedure. The aircraft was climbing through 10;000 FT and I advised the First Officer to request a level off or descent. We requested a descent to the lowest safe altitude. Our initial clearance was for 9;000 FT. The cabin altitude continued to increase and was uncontrollable in auto or manual modes. We advised the Controller we were troubleshooting a pressurization issue and to standby. The warning message became a caution message. I made the decision to return to the field for the second time due to the abnormality of the situation with the opposite side system being affected; our pressurization issue; and taking into account the fuel required to get to destination at a lower altitude. The flight attendant's indicated passengers were very uncomfortable with the pressurization. We landed and returned to the gate without further incident. I contacted our Dispatcher to determine our course of action. Several hours later a decision to cancel the flight was made and a ferry permit was issued to fly unpressurized with bleeds and pack valves closed. We flew unpressurized without further incident. This was a maintenance issue. Upon returning to the field the first time; the Mechanic; First Officer; and I completed an engine run-up. The aircraft passed the ops check and was signed off by Maintenance.
After returning to the field for an L Bleed Duct Warning; CRJ900 flight crew experiences an R Bleed Duct Warning message on EICAS and elects to again return to the field for maintenance.