Narrative:

Slide was blown by flight attendant during a turn. While performing required inspection item of 2L door slide replacement; slide was accidentally deployed with safety pin installed during operations check which caused the slide to drop out from slide container. Aircraft was not damaged. No personal injury. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the A319 was at the gate when the flight attendant inadvertently opened door 2-Left that was still armed. Reporter stated after mechanics replaced the slide assembly; he was performing the required inspection item (rii) inspection of the door slide installation; when he also accidentally pulled the door control handle while the door slide was armed. The slide fell out of the case; but did not inflate because the slide pack inflation bottle was still pinned. Reporter stated there was a positive side to his mistake. While maintenance was ordering a second replacement slide; he noted the slide he deployed was a slide/raft combo that should not have been installed on that A319. Only a standard domestic slide assembly was approved. The flight was canceled. Reporter stated mechanics later explained to him there were so many engineering modification reference numbers on the domestic and slide/raft combinations noted in the illustrated parts catalog (ipc); with the actual slide part numbers; that mechanics were getting confused when ordering a slide for a particular aircraft. The slide/raft combination requires a larger slide cover (bustle); than the one installed on the A319 he was inspecting.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Inspector reports an A319 door slide was inadvertently deployed by a Flight Attendant; while at a gate. While performing an RII; the replacement slide was also accidentally released from door bustle; but did not deploy.

Narrative: Slide was blown by Flight Attendant during a turn. While performing Required Inspection Item of 2L door slide replacement; slide was accidentally deployed with safety pin installed during operations check which caused the slide to drop out from slide container. Aircraft was not damaged. No personal injury. Callback conversation with Reporter revealed the following information: Reporter stated the A319 was at the gate when the Flight Attendant inadvertently opened door 2-Left that was still armed. Reporter stated after mechanics replaced the slide assembly; he was performing the Required Inspection Item (RII) inspection of the door slide installation; when he also accidentally pulled the door control handle while the door slide was armed. The slide fell out of the case; but did not inflate because the slide pack inflation bottle was still pinned. Reporter stated there was a positive side to his mistake. While Maintenance was ordering a second replacement slide; he noted the slide he deployed was a slide/raft combo that should not have been installed on that A319. Only a standard domestic slide assembly was approved. The flight was canceled. Reporter stated mechanics later explained to him there were so many engineering modification reference numbers on the domestic and slide/raft combinations noted in the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC); with the actual slide part numbers; that mechanics were getting confused when ordering a slide for a particular aircraft. The slide/raft combination requires a larger slide cover (bustle); than the one installed on the A319 he was inspecting.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.