Slide deployment in CLT

[PSA1979]

I have had the slides in their casings fall off both the MD80 and the 737. Once when the door opened and once when the door closed. Neither time did the slide inflate. And neither time were the slides armed.

 

[BoeingBoy]

To me the initial report by a passenger doesn't quite make sense for a slide "deployment" or inflation. The passenger said he couldn't see the slide from FC but an inflated slide would have taken up about all the space between 1L and 1R so should have been visible.

I suspect, like others, that it was just the slide dropping down to the floor while still partially in it's casing.

Jim

 

[WorldTraveler]

thanks Jim and 965. I agree logically there isn't a whole lot of value to be gained from remotely initiating a safety action that requires the ability to quickly assess and judge the situation, something that is very hard to train a machine to do - and doing it without the inputs that an FA could give would make the process very risky.

 

[Dilligas]

This was posted on MilePoint yesterday:

"I flew on Monday from CLT to MIA. Soon after taxi began there was a loud bang following which the captain came out and apologized to an FA. He then announced they had inadvertently deployed the emergency slide. In the end we were transferred to another aicraft and the flight was without further incident."

Someone asked for clarification about having a slide deployment physically initiated from the cockpit; this was added:

"Yes, deployment can be manually done from the cockpit. they did it"

The pilots went off to the Chief Pilot's Office while the FAs continued on:

"He was so summonded; he and the copilot were discussing that between temselves as we were deplaning. The flight crew changed with the second flight, while the cabin crew continued."

This was a 737-400. A slide can be deployed from the cockpit?

Linkage

No. A slide cannot be deployed from the cockpit.

The inadvertent deployment of a slide is a dangerous and expensive mistake. A lot of attention has been paid to developing procedures to limit this type of incident from happening. When people are rushing, sometimes careless mistakes are made when someone does not follow the exact procedures.

Regarding this particular incident I "heard" this was a case where catering was called back at the last minute, possibly after the initial pushback from the gate had begun, to load more meals or supplies.

The door was opened before the slide was "disarmed" and the slide blew outward. If a slide blew inside the cabin, everyone would know it and see it.

The company has a very strict approach with discipline with this type of incident. Mandatory time off without pay. No excuses.

Regarding the Captain's overheard comments, I suspect he more likely said something like... "I'm sorry Linda, we've blown a slide and we're not going anywhere for awhile" which the FC passenger misinterpreted as someone in the cockpit did it.

 

[N965VJ]

Okay, now this makes more sense. I never would have guessed a catering truck would be involved once an aircraft had pushed back, for obvious reasons.

 

[ggiby]

B.S. alert!!! The slides cannot be deployed from the flightdeck.

especially from a 37...as far as I know not from any a/c.... the f/a's and outside people can only deploy a slide

 

[ggiby]

Okay, now this makes more sense. I never would have guessed a catering truck would be involved once an aircraft had pushed back, for obvious reasons.

Yes... catering has done this one more than one occasion..
I had it happen to me.
I was the f/a in the back... we had been catered... doors armed and we were pushing back..
I was doing my required announcement .... all of the sudden in the middle of my announcement...
boom... my 1 L door opens... luckily it was on an a/b... not a 37... thank God..
the caterers come in... and I was so shaken up.. I was so startled. I did not know what to do...
they were then in my galley... I was yelling what are you doing/? They said that we are going to cater.
I said... we are pushing back and we have already been catered...
I was the B f/a
since then... my C f/a had it happen again on her flight... but it was 37... then you are screwed...

or maybe dead...

 

[WorldTraveler]

explain why it is better if it happens on an Airbus...is it impossible to open the door from the outside and blow the slide on those a/c? Aren't some Boeing aircraft the same?
Doesn't US require that anyone who opens a door from the outside regardless of the aircraft type knock and get a confirmation that it is safe to open if the door is closed, wait for it to be opened by someone inside, or fo around and open the door from the inside? I see many airlines using that procedure.

 

[bud4fly]

This was posted on MilePoint yesterday:

"I flew on Monday from CLT to MIA. Soon after taxi began there was a loud bang following which the captain came out and apologized to an FA. He then announced they had inadvertently deployed the emergency slide. In the end we were transferred to another aicraft and the flight was without further incident."

Someone asked for clarification about having a slide deployment physically initiated from the cockpit; this was added:

"Yes, deployment can be manually done from the cockpit. they did it"

The pilots went off to the Chief Pilot's Office while the FAs continued on:

"He was so summonded; he and the copilot were discussing that between temselves as we were deplaning. The flight crew changed with the second flight, while the cabin crew continued."



This was a 737-400. A slide can be deployed from the cockpit?

Linkage

 

[N965VJ]

The Airbus has a design where the slide arming mechanism is integrated with the door operating handle. If an armed door is opened from the outside, the slide is automatically disarmed. Door procedures have changed over the years, and I left US before the HP merger, so I'm not the best person to explain what is being done now.

 

[bud4fly]

This is what happen on that flight I was on it....
The flight attendants just finished there safety demonstration and were doing there walk through while the plane was being pushed back the ramp noticed the handle on the 1R door wasn't completley flush with the aircraft door and notified the captain. Instead of calling back to the flight attendants to check the door knowing they were busy he had the F/O go back to check the door he rotated the handle and the slide deployed. OOPS! The F/O was sent to be drug tested they swapped plans to the 737 that was at the next gate and the flight was 1 hour late. (i just made my check in thank you) So the question here is, Did the F/O get 3 days off like the flight attendants do when they deploy a slide? and do the pilots have to return to the training center to review door operations like the flight attendants do? This is the question i'm most interested in knowing....

 

[bud4fly]

This was posted on MilePoint yesterday:

"I flew on Monday from CLT to MIA. Soon after taxi began there was a loud bang following which the captain came out and apologized to an FA. He then announced they had inadvertently deployed the emergency slide. In the end we were transferred to another aicraft and the flight was without further incident."

Someone asked for clarification about having a slide deployment physically initiated from the cockpit; this was added:

"Yes, deployment can be manually done from the cockpit. they did it"

The pilots went off to the Chief Pilot's Office while the FAs continued on:

"He was so summonded; he and the copilot were discussing that between temselves as we were deplaning. The flight crew changed with the second flight, while the cabin crew continued."

FYI. the flight crew was not changed out they flew the new 737 to mia and back to clt then on to pvd where they overnighted.

This was a 737-400. A slide can be deployed from the cockpit?

Linkage

 

[BoeingBoy]

while the plane was being pushed back the ramp noticed the handle on the 1R door wasn't completley flush with the aircraft door and notified the captain/quote]

A screwup by the Captain, F/O and/or rampers if that's the case. All the ramp had to do was take a broom or something with a long handle and push on the outside handle till it popped into the recess it's mean to be in. Unless the outside handle is physically pulled all the way out it isn't connected to the opening mechanism and turns freely. The FO can mess with the inside door handle all he wants and the outside handle won't move.

Sounds like training has gotten a little sloppy or pressed for time as more and more has to be covered in the same amount of time if the flight crews don't know this.

Jim

 

[ggiby]

Okay, now this makes more sense. I never would have guessed a catering truck would be involved once an aircraft had pushed back, for obvious reasons.

I actually had a caterer open my 2L door right after the brake was released and the Capt gave the ok for pushback. We were doing our Safety demo, and all of the sudden the caterer opened my door. Thank God we were on an airbus. The caterer insisted that my a/c needed catering. We were already catered. So I then had to prove to him that it was done, and we were in the process of pushing back. I about had a heart attack.!!

 

[AstroLounge]

This is what happen on that flight I was on it....
The flight attendants just finished there safety demonstration and were doing there walk through while the plane was being pushed back the ramp noticed the handle on the 1R door wasn't completley flush with the aircraft door and notified the captain. Instead of calling back to the flight attendants to check the door knowing they were busy he had the F/O go back to check the door he rotated the handle and the slide deployed. OOPS! The F/O was sent to be drug tested they swapped plans to the 737 that was at the next gate and the flight was 1 hour late. (i just made my check in thank you) So the question here is, Did the F/O get 3 days off like the flight attendants do when they deploy a slide? and do the pilots have to return to the training center to review door operations like the flight attendants do? This is the question i'm most interested in knowing....

well "IF" this was indeed what happened, I personally feel that BOTH the Captain and First Officer need time off without pay and be required to Go thru Door Qualification AGAIN. Talk about a STUPID stunt! Neither Pilot would get Any vote of Confidence in handling a Serious Crisis as far as I am concerned. Pretty senseless stunt and an inconvenience to many when all they needed to do was PICK Up The Interphone! (And I am sure some Clown will come to their defense and offer a 'should have, would have could of" because that is what so many do nowadays to cover their arsce with An EXCUSE. It's NOT an excuse..........it's a F Up!