On 6 February 2007, at approximately 1130 Central Summer Time, while operating a passenger charter flight from Melbourne, Vic. to Alice Springs, NT, the pilot of a Beech Aircraft Corporation 300 aircraft, registered VH-MLG, reported feeling his ears ‘pop’ while at flight level 280 and the aircraft rapidly depressurised. There were eight persons on board the aircraft.
The pilot reported looking at the aircraft pressurisation panel and noticing that the needles were rapidly moving. The passenger seated in the right seat (also a pilot) called to the pilot to ‘put on oxygen’. While donning his oxygen mask, the passenger reported that the oxygen hose blew out of the mask when pressurised. He managed to reattach the hose and remain on oxygen.
After checking that the passengers had donned their oxygen masks, the pilot advised air traffic control of the depressurisation and commenced an emergency descent. The aircraft subsequently landed at Alice Springs with no injuries reported.
The pilot reported that it is possible that, while adjusting his seat position prior to top of descent, he inadvertently activated the switch to the DUMP position.
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