Overview
On 30 May 2014, an Embraer 170 aircraft (registration not specified) was involved in an incident at Zurich Airport (LSZH) after passengers had disembarked. The purser informed the captain that the evacuation slide had partially extended from its storage compartment and was resting on the steps. The captain consulted the Maintenance Control Center (MCC) and requested mechanic assistance for repair.
Event Details
According to crew statements, the captain did not receive the standard report from the purser confirming readiness for passenger disembarkation, nor was there information about awareness that the slide was extended at that time. The slide was subsequently inspected by obtaining its certificate of airworthiness and installation history, which confirmed it was serviceable during operation. The slide did not inflate because the distance between the jetbridge floor and the lower edge of the aircraft door was too small to trigger the inflation mechanism. This design feature acts as a safeguard against inadvertent inflation.
Investigation
The investigation determined that training of crew members on how to act in such a situation prevented the irregularity from escalating. The incident was documented and used for safety purposes.
Cause
The cause of the incident was that cabin crew did not notice the extension of the evacuation slide from its stowage compartment.
Preventive Actions
1. The incident was described in a bulletin distributed to cabin crew and published on an aviation safety website. 2. The documentation served as instructional material during periodic crew training and was discussed at a Safety Action Group meeting.
The investigation committee did not issue any safety recommendations.