AAL 1640

[graysono]

An American Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N626AA AA-1640 from Miami,FL to Boston,MA (USA) with 154 passengers and 6 crew, had been cleared to climb to FL310 when the airplane suffered a rapid decompression.

The crew donned their oxygen masks and initiated an emergency descent, the passenger oxygen masks were deployed. After reaching 10,000 feet the crew requested even lower and descended further to 8000 feet and returned to Miami for a safe landing on Miami's runway 08R about 40 minutes after departure.

A post flight inspection revealed a hole of about 1 foot by 2 feet (33 by 66cm) just above and aft of the L1 door and just above the "A" of the American Airlines Logo.

The NTSB reported, that the investigation is in its early stages and the altitude at which the decompression occurred has not yet been determined. The NTSB was told 154 passengers and 6 crew were on board.

[alltheway]

If you listen to the audio of this incident, they where cleared passing through a waypoint at 18.000 feet with their save altitude of 31.000 feet.

The audio started when they where flying 16.000 feet, so between 16.000 and 18.000 feet when the explosive decompression occurred.

[captkel]

Initially when AAL 1640 notified Miami Center of the problem and declared an emergency, the controller cleared them to descend to 24,000 feet and a left turn direct Miami, they wanted 10,000 feet so she cleared them to that. So my guess is they were at or close to 31,000 feet when the decompression problem occurred.

I edited the Miami Center audio....removed dead air and other aircraft. Some time had gone by after they had first checked in until they had the problem

[graysono]

Awesome thanks! I edited but left prob too many bits in.

G

[alltheway]

Yea, I listened again and I missed the 24.000 feet clearance, so it occurred between 24.000 feet and 31.000 feet then  

[captkel]

Si Señor or yep

[joeyb747]

NTSB has released the Final Report:

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20101027X04916&ntsbno=DCA11FA004&akey=1

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=432c6391/0000&opt=0