Cabin attendant aboard A320 inadvertently activates emergency escape slide instead of disarming it.

Attributes
ACN	747923
Time
Date	200707
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
ASRS Report	747923
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Cabin Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I accidentally blew the slide at door 2L on an airbus 320. The reason I blew the slide by accident because I always try to assess out the window and protect myself before I disarm the door. However; while I assessed and held on the protection strap handle; my next instinct was that my arm just automatically disarm the emergency lever handle. As soon as I realized that I disarmed the wrong lever; I tried to rearm the emergency lever; however; it sent a little bit too far and it would not allow me to rearm it. As soon as I realized I blew the slide; I called the captain and reported to him right away. The next person I called to report was the purser. I explained what happened and that no one was injured or hurt. The captain said that he understood and one positive outcome that no one was hurt. I had also informed the supervisor. I always have been a careful person and at this time I went a little bit too far; therefore; I confused myself and created the incident. I questioned myself as to what I did wrong and I noticed that pulling the emergency arm lever is quite an easy mistake; as for disarming the doors. In the future; I have to take my time more and re-evaluate; plus check the arm lever again before I pull that arm lever. I assure that from now on and into the future this will never happen again and I will be more careful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CABIN ATTENDANT ABOARD A320 INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATES EMERGENCY ESCAPE SLIDE INSTEAD OF DISARMING IT.

Narrative: I ACCIDENTALLY BLEW THE SLIDE AT DOOR 2L ON AN AIRBUS 320. THE REASON I BLEW THE SLIDE BY ACCIDENT BECAUSE I ALWAYS TRY TO ASSESS OUT THE WINDOW AND PROTECT MYSELF BEFORE I DISARM THE DOOR. HOWEVER; WHILE I ASSESSED AND HELD ON THE PROTECTION STRAP HANDLE; MY NEXT INSTINCT WAS THAT MY ARM JUST AUTOMATICALLY DISARM THE EMER LEVER HANDLE. AS SOON AS I REALIZED THAT I DISARMED THE WRONG LEVER; I TRIED TO REARM THE EMER LEVER; HOWEVER; IT SENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR AND IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO REARM IT. AS SOON AS I REALIZED I BLEW THE SLIDE; I CALLED THE CAPT AND RPTED TO HIM RIGHT AWAY. THE NEXT PERSON I CALLED TO RPT WAS THE PURSER. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR HURT. THE CAPT SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD AND ONE POSITIVE OUTCOME THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. I HAD ALSO INFORMED THE SUPVR. I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A CAREFUL PERSON AND AT THIS TIME I WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR; THEREFORE; I CONFUSED MYSELF AND CREATED THE INCIDENT. I QUESTIONED MYSELF AS TO WHAT I DID WRONG AND I NOTICED THAT PULLING THE EMER ARM LEVER IS QUITE AN EASY MISTAKE; AS FOR DISARMING THE DOORS. IN THE FUTURE; I HAVE TO TAKE MY TIME MORE AND RE-EVALUATE; PLUS CHK THE ARM LEVER AGAIN BEFORE I PULL THAT ARM LEVER. I ASSURE THAT FROM NOW ON AND INTO THE FUTURE THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL.

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.