An airbus in cargo configuration experienced cabin smoke barrier seal problems at the cabin floor level. Velcro seal; when dirty or wet; buckles at floor level.

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Attributes
ACN	679519
Time
Date	200511
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Airbus Industrie Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	679519
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : engineering procedure performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On postflt; FAA discovered the smoke barrier velcro seal at bottom was not fully sealed. Because of construction; these are difficult to seal unless one is on cargo side of smoke barrier. Also; velcro wears out and seal is not failproof. While loaders and crew (first officer) need to ensure seal is secure; a better sealing medium than velcro may be called for.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated this cabin smoke barrier floor seal is a real problem. When the velcro seal gets dirty; worn; or wet; it will not seal and mainly just buckles up. The smoke barrier is rptedly located just aft of the cargo safety net and only has two ways to gain access to the seal; if not sealed properly; by using the smoke barrier sidewall zipper and actually getting to the floor level seal; or reaching through the safety net and pulling the seal into place. The reporter suggests the condition of the seal; if dirty; worn; or wet; neither method will work; adding the design of the seal located on the cargo floor is inadequate as the floor is in most cases dirty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS IN CARGO CONFIGURATION EXPERIENCED CABIN SMOKE BARRIER SEAL PROBLEMS AT THE CABIN FLOOR LEVEL. VELCRO SEAL; WHEN DIRTY OR WET; BUCKLES AT FLOOR LEVEL.

Narrative: ON POSTFLT; FAA DISCOVERED THE SMOKE BARRIER VELCRO SEAL AT BOTTOM WAS NOT FULLY SEALED. BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION; THESE ARE DIFFICULT TO SEAL UNLESS ONE IS ON CARGO SIDE OF SMOKE BARRIER. ALSO; VELCRO WEARS OUT AND SEAL IS NOT FAILPROOF. WHILE LOADERS AND CREW (FO) NEED TO ENSURE SEAL IS SECURE; A BETTER SEALING MEDIUM THAN VELCRO MAY BE CALLED FOR.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THIS CABIN SMOKE BARRIER FLOOR SEAL IS A REAL PROBLEM. WHEN THE VELCRO SEAL GETS DIRTY; WORN; OR WET; IT WILL NOT SEAL AND MAINLY JUST BUCKLES UP. THE SMOKE BARRIER IS RPTEDLY LOCATED JUST AFT OF THE CARGO SAFETY NET AND ONLY HAS TWO WAYS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE SEAL; IF NOT SEALED PROPERLY; BY USING THE SMOKE BARRIER SIDEWALL ZIPPER AND ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE FLOOR LEVEL SEAL; OR REACHING THROUGH THE SAFETY NET AND PULLING THE SEAL INTO PLACE. THE RPTR SUGGESTS THE CONDITION OF THE SEAL; IF DIRTY; WORN; OR WET; NEITHER METHOD WILL WORK; ADDING THE DESIGN OF THE SEAL LOCATED ON THE CARGO FLOOR IS INADEQUATE AS THE FLOOR IS IN MOST CASES DIRTY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.