Decompression Incidents
This is a start on a decompression history for jet transport aircraft
Far East Air Transport -- Boeing 737 -- Taiwan --- 1981
A Far Eastern Air Transport
(FEAT) 737 came apart at 23,000 feet over Taiwan within 1981.
The official cause of the FEAT accident was "lower lobe
decompression"
Aloha Airlines -- Boeing 737 -- Hilo - Honolulu --- April 28th 1988
At
24,000ft, the aircraft experienced a rapid decompression when an 18 ft section
of the fuselage (roof and sides) ripped out.
The aircraft declared an emergency and 13 minutes later, landed at Maui.
The noise was so great in the cockpit that the flight crew were only able
to communicate using hand-signals.
The
cause of the accident was put down to metal fatigue.
The FEAT and Aloha aircraft
were virtually identical being Boeing Production Line Numbers 151 and 152,
respectfully.
United Airlines -- Flight 811 -- Boeing 747 -- Honolulu to Sydney
The
aircraft took off from Honolulu at about 0155 with 3 flight crew, 15 cabin crew
and 337 passengers. Approx. 20
minutes into the flight, a rapid decompression occurred at about 23,000 ft, when
the forward starboard cargo door and 15`X10`
section of the cabin fuselage separated. Nine
passengers were lost. The aeroplane
returned to Honolulu and landed safely at 0234.
