An MD80 cockpit door opens during takeoff roll. There is some disagreement between crew members as t...

Attributes
ACN	593535
Time
Date	200309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sat.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	593535
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3, 4
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On takeoff roll, almost immediately after selecting autothrottles, the cockpit door swung open. Airspeed was approximately 60-70 KIAS. Decision was made not to abort. Captain was flying. I made the decision to level at 6000 ft to determine what was wrong with the door. The flight attendant was trying to close the door but said it had come out of the track. I turned on the autoplt, told the first officer he had the aircraft, and got out of my seat. At that time, the flight attendant and a deadheading MD80 captain had closed the door. I used the dead bolt to secure the door and then continued the flight to destination. During the takeoff, first officer had strongly recommended aborting, saying 'airspeed is less than 80 KTS, we should stop.' at least one more time he restated that we should stop. Once airborne, he wanted to declare an emergency and rtn to dfw for an immediate landing. I listened to his suggestions, but my decision was to continue the take off and then once the problem was corrected, continue to destination. First officer is an excellent pilot and I respect his judgement. However, in this case, I felt it would be inappropriate to abort, and then to continue to destination once the dead bolt was used to secure the cockpit door.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 COCKPIT DOOR OPENS DURING TKOF ROLL. THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT BTWN CREW MEMBERS AS TO WHETHER A REJECTED TKOF OR CONTINUING TO DEST WAS THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION.

Narrative: ON TKOF ROLL, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER SELECTING AUTOTHROTTLES, THE COCKPIT DOOR SWUNG OPEN. AIRSPD WAS APPROX 60-70 KIAS. DECISION WAS MADE NOT TO ABORT. CAPT WAS FLYING. I MADE THE DECISION TO LEVEL AT 6000 FT TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE DOOR. THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR BUT SAID IT HAD COME OUT OF THE TRACK. I TURNED ON THE AUTOPLT, TOLD THE FO HE HAD THE ACFT, AND GOT OUT OF MY SEAT. AT THAT TIME, THE FLT ATTENDANT AND A DEADHEADING MD80 CAPT HAD CLOSED THE DOOR. I USED THE DEAD BOLT TO SECURE THE DOOR AND THEN CONTINUED THE FLT TO DEST. DURING THE TKOF, FO HAD STRONGLY RECOMMENDED ABORTING, SAYING 'AIRSPD IS LESS THAN 80 KTS, WE SHOULD STOP.' AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME HE RESTATED THAT WE SHOULD STOP. ONCE AIRBORNE, HE WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMER AND RTN TO DFW FOR AN IMMEDIATE LNDG. I LISTENED TO HIS SUGGESTIONS, BUT MY DECISION WAS TO CONTINUE THE TAKE OFF AND THEN ONCE THE PROB WAS CORRECTED, CONTINUE TO DEST. FO IS AN EXCELLENT PLT AND I RESPECT HIS JUDGEMENT. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, I FELT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO ABORT, AND THEN TO CONTINUE TO DEST ONCE THE DEAD BOLT WAS USED TO SECURE THE COCKPIT DOOR.

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.

An MD80 cockpit door opens during takeoff roll. There is some disagreement between crew members as to whether a rejected takeoff or continuing to destination was the appropriate course of action.