Narrative:

On climbout through about 11;000 ft we got a master warning; fuselage doors. Checking the door page on the mfd we noted the forward baggage door was red. Pressurization was normal and there were no unusual sounds; noises; or changes in flight characteristics. We ran emergency checklist; and advised ATC we needed to level off to evaluate a situation. We leveled at 12;000 (the MEA for route) and continued on route while we ran checklist and evaluated situation. I advised flight attendants to stop service; remain seated; and expect possible depressurization. The checklist calls for switching to manual pressurization and then depressurizing; and unpressurized flight to return to airport. It was not clear; however; from the checklist pathway if this is what we should do since we had normal pressurization; no unusual sounds; and all other aspects of flight normal. This was discussed with first officer as well as a jumpseater aboard. We all agreed the checklist was not totally clear. I called dispatch and maintenance. Maintenance said it may be just a proximity sensor indication; but it was my decision to continue or not. At this point; with pressurization still normal; and the flight otherwise proceeding normally at 12;000 and half way to our destination. I made a decision to continue; keeping in mind several possible diversion airports if needed. We advised dispatch and maintenance and ATC. The flight was completed normally. Maintenance met the aircraft upon arrival and found the forward baggage door handle not completely seated and said it probably was not closed correctly; although we had a green light before departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DHC-8-400's forward cargo door warning annunciated during climb out. After completing the checklist successfully because the pressurization remained normal; the Captain elected to continue to the destination where the door handle was found not completely closed.

Narrative: On climbout through about 11;000 FT we got a master warning; fuselage doors. Checking the door page on the MFD we noted the forward baggage door was red. Pressurization was normal and there were no unusual sounds; noises; or changes in flight characteristics. We ran Emergency Checklist; and advised ATC we needed to level off to evaluate a situation. We leveled at 12;000 (the MEA for route) and continued on route while we ran checklist and evaluated situation. I advised flight attendants to stop service; remain seated; and expect possible depressurization. The checklist calls for switching to manual pressurization and then depressurizing; and unpressurized flight to return to airport. It was not clear; however; from the checklist pathway if this is what we should do since we had normal pressurization; no unusual sounds; and all other aspects of flight normal. This was discussed with First Officer as well as a jumpseater aboard. We all agreed the checklist was not totally clear. I called Dispatch and Maintenance. Maintenance said it may be just a proximity sensor indication; but it was my decision to continue or not. At this point; with pressurization still normal; and the flight otherwise proceeding normally at 12;000 and half way to our destination. I made a decision to continue; keeping in mind several possible diversion airports if needed. We advised Dispatch and Maintenance and ATC. The flight was completed normally. Maintenance met the aircraft upon arrival and found the forward baggage door handle not completely seated and said it probably was not closed correctly; although we had a green light before departure.

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.