A319 flight crew member opens overwing emergency exit by mistake and deploys the emergency slide.

Attributes
ACN	695446
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice Snow
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	695446
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Concern for possible ice on the wings; I went to check the wings through the overwing exits. Opened the overwing exit and slide deployed properly. I had come up the stairs and could barely stay upright because it was so slick. After the walkaround inspection; the first officer reported that the aircraft was clean; and no need for deicing. I went to verify the aircraft condition through the window but forgot that the overwing exits remain armed even when the doors are disarmed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW MEMBER OPENS OVERWING EMER EXIT BY MISTAKE AND DEPLOYS THE EMER SLIDE.

Narrative: CONCERN FOR POSSIBLE ICE ON THE WINGS; I WENT TO CHK THE WINGS THROUGH THE OVERWING EXITS. OPENED THE OVERWING EXIT AND SLIDE DEPLOYED PROPERLY. I HAD COME UP THE STAIRS AND COULD BARELY STAY UPRIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS SO SLICK. AFTER THE WALKAROUND INSPECTION; THE FO RPTED THAT THE ACFT WAS CLEAN; AND NO NEED FOR DEICING. I WENT TO VERIFY THE ACFT CONDITION THROUGH THE WINDOW BUT FORGOT THAT THE OVERWING EXITS REMAIN ARMED EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE DISARMED.

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.