Mechanic reports he inadvertently deployed the right wing overwing slide on an A320 aircraft when he...

Narrative:

A320 aircraft right wing overwing slide deployment; february 2013; late morning. Aircraft was in heavy maintenance bay hangar. While performing lighting strike inspection; was preparing to perform aircraft crown inspection; [but] noted aircraft crown was still wet from snow melting. At that time decided to perform top of wing lighting strike inspection. [I] entered cabin to gain access to wing top [and fuselage] side surface. At that time I was thinking about completing the right wing lighting strike inspection before lunch break [approximately thirty minutes away]. I did not consider our safety program that has [another mechanic verify certain procedures are performed by the working mechanic before activating critical equipment or systems; such as overwing slides]. Removed cover from [overwing] emergency exit access handle and pulled handle. Stopped handle movement at sound of overwing slide inflating. After slide deployment; realized did not disarm right overwing emergency slide. [I] called lead mechanic and maintenance supervisor. [Recommend] having two each placards installed on both sides of 'pull' handle labeled 'slide' and one placard labeled 'slide' on the interior cover; to alert the mechanic to a caution: note: exit is 'slide' equipped.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Mechanic reports he inadvertently deployed the right wing overwing slide on an A320 aircraft when he pulled the cabin overwing exit handle without disarming the door. He had attempted to gain access to the right wing upper surface for a Lightning Strike Inspection.

Narrative: A320 aircraft right wing overwing slide deployment; February 2013; late morning. Aircraft was in Heavy Maintenance Bay Hangar. While performing Lighting Strike Inspection; was preparing to perform Aircraft Crown Inspection; [but] noted aircraft crown was still wet from snow melting. At that time decided to perform top of Wing Lighting Strike Inspection. [I] entered cabin to gain access to wing top [and fuselage] side surface. At that time I was thinking about completing the right Wing Lighting Strike Inspection before lunch break [approximately thirty minutes away]. I did not consider our safety program that has [another mechanic verify certain procedures are performed by the working mechanic before activating critical equipment or systems; such as overwing slides]. Removed cover from [Overwing] Emergency Exit access handle and pulled handle. Stopped handle movement at sound of overwing slide inflating. After slide deployment; realized did not disarm right overwing emergency slide. [I] called Lead Mechanic and Maintenance Supervisor. [Recommend] having two each placards installed on both sides of 'PULL' handle labeled 'SLIDE' and one placard labeled 'SLIDE' on the interior cover; to alert the mechanic to a caution: Note: Exit is 'SLIDE' equipped.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1068347
Time
Date	201302
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Parked
Component
Aircraft Component	Escape Slide
Person 1
Function	Technician
Qualification	Maintenance Airframe Maintenance Powerplant
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Mechanic reports he inadvertently deployed the right wing overwing slide on an A320 aircraft when he pulled the cabin overwing exit handle without disarming the door. He had attempted to gain access to the right wing upper surface for a lightning strike inspection.