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 pressurization failure during a flight with his family, forcing an emergency descent and immediate use of oxygen masks.
- The cause was identified as the cabin air-source controller being inadvertently left in the "Off" position, which the pilot promptly rectified to restore cabin pressure.
- The control was left off by maintenance during a recent engine wash, underscoring the critical importance of conducting an exceptionally thorough, line-by-line preflight inspection, both interior and exterior, after any maintenance.
- The incident served as a stark reminder to the experienced pilot about the dangers of skimming checklists and the need for meticulous diligence, particularly following aircraft servicing.
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