Narrative:

While removing my flight bag from the flight deck; it is likely that I hit a circuit breaker; breaking off the cap. After removing my flight bag; I turned to pick up my hat; which fell off while removing the bag; and I noticed the white barrel of the circuit breaker; with no cap. Further investigation found the cap in the cup holder below the broken circuit breaker. The exposed white barrel of the circuit breaker had the appearance that it was popped or open. But when the cap was slipped over the circuit breaker; it had the appearance of a normal circuit breaker; clearly proving that the circuit breaker was not popped. I advised maintenance control of the broken circuit breaker and that I was the likely cause. I also advised the oncoming crew and boarding agents. I then left for the hotel. As I was removing my flight bag; my hat caught something above my head and began to slide off. It is likely that this distraction diverted my attention from the heavy and cumbersome bag; and in a moment of inattention; allowed it to strike the circuit breaker and thus break off the cap. However; contributing factors would have to include; the heavy and cumbersome flight bag; the poorly designed ingress and egress of the flight bag storage area of the 737 and the awkward and unnatural feat of lifting the heavy bag far out from the body; while in a contorted position; twisted and bent over at the waist; all the while in the vicinity of the circuit breaker panel.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The Captain of a B737 damaged a circuit breaker while removing his flight bag from the cockpit storage area. He noticed the broken stem of the circuit breaker and reported the problem.

Narrative: While removing my flight bag from the flight deck; it is likely that I hit a circuit breaker; breaking off the cap. After removing my flight bag; I turned to pick up my hat; which fell off while removing the bag; and I noticed the white barrel of the circuit breaker; with no cap. Further investigation found the cap in the cup holder below the broken circuit breaker. The exposed white barrel of the circuit breaker had the appearance that it was popped or open. But when the cap was slipped over the circuit breaker; it had the appearance of a normal circuit breaker; clearly proving that the circuit breaker was not popped. I advised Maintenance Control of the broken circuit breaker and that I was the likely cause. I also advised the oncoming crew and boarding agents. I then left for the hotel. As I was removing my flight bag; my hat caught something above my head and began to slide off. It is likely that this distraction diverted my attention from the heavy and cumbersome bag; and in a moment of inattention; allowed it to strike the circuit breaker and thus break off the cap. However; contributing factors would have to include; the heavy and cumbersome flight bag; the poorly designed ingress and egress of the flight bag storage area of the 737 and the awkward and unnatural feat of lifting the heavy bag far out from the body; while in a contorted position; twisted and bent over at the waist; all the while in the vicinity of the circuit breaker panel.

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.