A B757 captain reports emergency flight deck access switch cover if left partially open can prevent ...

Attributes
ACN	612617
Time
Date	200403
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise : level descent : approach ground : parked landing : roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	612617
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Company FAA Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On the 757 the location of the emergency flight deck access switch on the cockpit door frame creates a situation whereby the switch cover can open to a point that can prevent the cockpit door from being opened. There is a small lip on the switch cover that can catch on the cockpit door frame if the cover is opened about 3/4 inch. Pushing the cockpit door open from the inside will not always move the cover panel aside. Because of the thickness of the plastic and the way it aligns with the edge of the cockpit door it appears that it would require a large amount of force to force the door open if it is blocked. This problem is the result of the switch location and/or the design of the cover panel. The panel could be reversed so that the hinge is on the left instead of the right side. This might allow the cockpit door to push the cover panel closed. In any event, when the cover panel does this, it effectively blocks the primary cockpit emergency exit. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the emergency flight deck access switch located on the door frame in the cabin has a thick plastic cover and when partially opened about pt 75 inch can block and interfere with the cockpit door when opened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 CAPT RPTS EMER FLT DECK ACCESS SWITCH COVER IF LEFT PARTIALLY OPEN CAN PREVENT COCKPIT DOOR FROM BEING OPENED.

Narrative: ON THE 757 THE LOCATION OF THE EMER FLT DECK ACCESS SWITCH ON THE COCKPIT DOOR FRAME CREATES A SIT WHEREBY THE SWITCH COVER CAN OPEN TO A POINT THAT CAN PREVENT THE COCKPIT DOOR FROM BEING OPENED. THERE IS A SMALL LIP ON THE SWITCH COVER THAT CAN CATCH ON THE COCKPIT DOOR FRAME IF THE COVER IS OPENED ABOUT 3/4 INCH. PUSHING THE COCKPIT DOOR OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WILL NOT ALWAYS MOVE THE COVER PANEL ASIDE. BECAUSE OF THE THICKNESS OF THE PLASTIC AND THE WAY IT ALIGNS WITH THE EDGE OF THE COCKPIT DOOR IT APPEARS THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A LARGE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO FORCE THE DOOR OPEN IF IT IS BLOCKED. THIS PROB IS THE RESULT OF THE SWITCH LOCATION AND/OR THE DESIGN OF THE COVER PANEL. THE PANEL COULD BE REVERSED SO THAT THE HINGE IS ON THE L INSTEAD OF THE R SIDE. THIS MIGHT ALLOW THE COCKPIT DOOR TO PUSH THE COVER PANEL CLOSED. IN ANY EVENT, WHEN THE COVER PANEL DOES THIS, IT EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS THE PRIMARY COCKPIT EMER EXIT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE EMER FLT DECK ACCESS SWITCH LOCATED ON THE DOOR FRAME IN THE CABIN HAS A THICK PLASTIC COVER AND WHEN PARTIALLY OPENED ABOUT PT 75 INCH CAN BLOCK AND INTERFERE WITH THE COCKPIT DOOR WHEN OPENED.

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.

A B757 captain reports emergency flight deck access switch cover if left partially open can prevent cockpit door from being opened.