Both B737 flight crew members are away from the flight controls while aircraft is airborne.

Attributes
ACN	569802
Time
Date	200212
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 6900 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	569802
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise flight, both captain and I decided we needed to use the lavatory. The captain called the flight attendants to set up the plan. 1 flight attendant called the cockpit and said the area was clear and gave us the code word. Captain got up, unlocked the bar, and left the cockpit while the flight attendant remained in the cockpit. The flight attendant sat on the side of the empty captain's seat. Captain then called the cockpit and gave me the correct code word. I told the flight attendant that he was ready to come in. To my surprise, she didn't move. I looked at her and asked her if she was going to get up. She said she would, but she never did. Due to the fact that I really had to use the bathroom and the flight attendant's reluctance to get up and open the door, I got up and opened the door. The captain came in and I went to the bathroom. The flight attendant did get up and move when the captain came in. There was a moment where no pilot was at the controls. The speaker was on, so we could hear ATC the entire time, but the lack of someone physically at the controls was a mistake on my part. I should have instructed the flight attendant to get up and operate the door. I was impatient with the situation. I believe the flight attendant was confused since both pilots were going to use the lavatory at the same time. Usually it's just one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BOTH B737 FLC MEMBERS ARE AWAY FROM THE FLT CTLS WHILE ACFT IS AIRBORNE.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE FLT, BOTH CAPT AND I DECIDED WE NEEDED TO USE THE LAVATORY. THE CAPT CALLED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO SET UP THE PLAN. 1 FLT ATTENDANT CALLED THE COCKPIT AND SAID THE AREA WAS CLR AND GAVE US THE CODE WORD. CAPT GOT UP, UNLOCKED THE BAR, AND LEFT THE COCKPIT WHILE THE FLT ATTENDANT REMAINED IN THE COCKPIT. THE FLT ATTENDANT SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE EMPTY CAPT'S SEAT. CAPT THEN CALLED THE COCKPIT AND GAVE ME THE CORRECT CODE WORD. I TOLD THE FLT ATTENDANT THAT HE WAS READY TO COME IN. TO MY SURPRISE, SHE DIDN'T MOVE. I LOOKED AT HER AND ASKED HER IF SHE WAS GOING TO GET UP. SHE SAID SHE WOULD, BUT SHE NEVER DID. DUE TO THE FACT THAT I REALLY HAD TO USE THE BATHROOM AND THE FLT ATTENDANT'S RELUCTANCE TO GET UP AND OPEN THE DOOR, I GOT UP AND OPENED THE DOOR. THE CAPT CAME IN AND I WENT TO THE BATHROOM. THE FLT ATTENDANT DID GET UP AND MOVE WHEN THE CAPT CAME IN. THERE WAS A MOMENT WHERE NO PLT WAS AT THE CTLS. THE SPEAKER WAS ON, SO WE COULD HEAR ATC THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT THE LACK OF SOMEONE PHYSICALLY AT THE CTLS WAS A MISTAKE ON MY PART. I SHOULD HAVE INSTRUCTED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO GET UP AND OPERATE THE DOOR. I WAS IMPATIENT WITH THE SIT. I BELIEVE THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS CONFUSED SINCE BOTH PLTS WERE GOING TO USE THE LAVATORY AT THE SAME TIME. USUALLY IT'S JUST ONE.

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.