Airport security issue addressed when metroliner left open and flight crew was not present.

Attributes
ACN	272057
Time
Date	199405
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : evv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Merlin Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	272057
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Between flts in bwi, we left our metroliner unattended with the cargo and cabin doors open. We went to get a snack and check the bos (destination) WX. We were away from the aircraft for 10 mins maximum. Company policy is to always close-up and secure the aircraft any time the crew is away from it. But company practice is to leave the doors open in hot WX as a metropolitan can heat to 120 degrees F plus. Since we were only to be away for a short time, and we planned to board for boston in 10 mins. We thought nothing of leaving the doors open. When returning to the aircraft, 2 FAA inspectors were waiting for us. They said we had violated an far, and that we would be reported. We knew company policy, and we knew the regulation. But we thought the ramp at bwi was secure, since ramp agents were working nearby. Also company practice has been to leave doors open in hot WX. Now we know to obey the letter of the law.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARPT SECURITY ISSUE ADDRESSED WHEN METROLINER LEFT OPEN AND FLC WAS NOT PRESENT.

Narrative: BTWN FLTS IN BWI, WE LEFT OUR METROLINER UNATTENDED WITH THE CARGO AND CABIN DOORS OPEN. WE WENT TO GET A SNACK AND CHK THE BOS (DEST) WX. WE WERE AWAY FROM THE ACFT FOR 10 MINS MAX. COMPANY POLICY IS TO ALWAYS CLOSE-UP AND SECURE THE ACFT ANY TIME THE CREW IS AWAY FROM IT. BUT COMPANY PRACTICE IS TO LEAVE THE DOORS OPEN IN HOT WX AS A METRO CAN HEAT TO 120 DEGS F PLUS. SINCE WE WERE ONLY TO BE AWAY FOR A SHORT TIME, AND WE PLANNED TO BOARD FOR BOSTON IN 10 MINS. WE THOUGHT NOTHING OF LEAVING THE DOORS OPEN. WHEN RETURNING TO THE ACFT, 2 FAA INSPECTORS WERE WAITING FOR US. THEY SAID WE HAD VIOLATED AN FAR, AND THAT WE WOULD BE RPTED. WE KNEW COMPANY POLICY, AND WE KNEW THE REG. BUT WE THOUGHT THE RAMP AT BWI WAS SECURE, SINCE RAMP AGENTS WERE WORKING NEARBY. ALSO COMPANY PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO LEAVE DOORS OPEN IN HOT WX. NOW WE KNOW TO OBEY THE LETTER OF THE LAW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.