B737-300 must return to gate to have cargo door properly secured.

Narrative:

Contacted ground crew with; 'a's off; brakes set.' tug driver responded with; 'doors closed; walkaround complete; safety zone is clear.' I released the brakes; cleared him to push; and we left the gate. Normal engine start; after start flows; before taxi checklist. We were cleared to runway xxr and left the ramp for the long taxi down the parallel. Headed northbound and crossing runway xy; tower called to tell us that operations called and thought we might have an open cargo door and cleared us back to the ramp. We entered the ramp; shut down the #2 engine; and a ramper closed the door. Subsequent engine start; checklist; taxi; takeoff; and flight to our destination were uneventful. Upon arriving; the time sheet was handed in to us with the explanation for the late departure that the crew pushed the gate without doing a walkaround and had to return to secure a door. All procedures were followed and while I don't think I missed the door annunciator light. I think that we have great procedures at the company. I also think that everyone involved in this was trying to do the right thing. Where the door came open; I don't know; but I do think we would have caught it with the before takeoff checklist. A concern I have is with the fairly new procedures whereby the gate agents must account for every minute an aircraft falls behind schedule on their watch; it has really started a 'blame game'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 must return to gate to have cargo door properly secured.

Narrative: Contacted Ground Crew with; 'A's off; brakes set.' Tug Driver responded with; 'Doors closed; walkaround complete; safety zone is clear.' I released the brakes; cleared him to push; and we left the gate. Normal engine start; after start flows; Before Taxi checklist. We were cleared to Runway XXR and left the ramp for the long taxi down the parallel. Headed northbound and crossing Runway XY; Tower called to tell us that Operations called and thought we might have an open cargo door and cleared us back to the ramp. We entered the ramp; shut down the #2 engine; and a Ramper closed the door. Subsequent engine start; checklist; taxi; takeoff; and flight to our destination were uneventful. Upon arriving; the time sheet was handed in to us with the explanation for the late departure that the crew pushed the gate without doing a walkaround and had to return to secure a door. All procedures were followed and while I don't think I missed the door annunciator light. I think that we have great procedures at the company. I also think that everyone involved in this was trying to do the right thing. Where the door came open; I don't know; but I do think we would have caught it with the Before Takeoff Checklist. A concern I have is with the fairly new procedures whereby the gate agents must account for every minute an aircraft falls behind schedule on their watch; it has really started a 'blame game'.

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.

Attributes
ACN	843174
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 202 Flight Crew Type 4000
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 241
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown