The chattering of alarms in the cockpit grabbed my attention. The Cessna CJ2 had just blasted through 12,000 feet, and now 14,000 feet, after takeoff from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, for our short flight to San Luis Obispo. I checked the annunciator panel and noticed the Cabin Alt red light was illuminated. I also looked at the pressurization gauge and noticed it was above 10,000 feet. I actually started to feel the altitude change myself, so I quickly donned my oxygen mask and told my 12-year-old daughter in the copilot seat to do the same. My wife, who was sitting in the rear seat, copilot side, saw me do this and started to grow concerned — well, she freaked out, really. My 17-year-old daughter was in the rear-facing, pilot-side seat and didn’t seem fazed at all.
Oxygen Issue in a Cessna CJ2
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot experienced an unexpected cabin depressurization during climb-out with his family, leading to alarms, an emergency descent, and immediate oxygen mask usage.
- The cause was traced to the cabin air-source controller being mistakenly left in the "Off" position by maintenance after an engine wash.
- The pilot successfully diagnosed the problem mid-flight, reset the controller, and restored cabin pressure, allowing the flight to continue safely.
- The incident served as a crucial reminder of the critical importance of performing a thorough, line-by-line interior preflight checklist, especially after any maintenance work, even for experienced aviators.
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