FLT ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; ELP-DFW; HAND INJURY IN FIRST CLASS CLOSET DOOR. DESIGN DEFICIENCY.

Date: 1999-07 · Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-other-unknown

Synopsis

FLT ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; ELP-DFW; HAND INJURY IN FIRST CLASS CLOSET DOOR. DESIGN DEFICIENCY.

Narrative

I GRABBED THE CLOSET DOOR (WHICH ROLLS SHUT UP TO DOWN) WITH BOTH HANDS (PALMS UP). I PULLED HARD (WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THAT PARTICULAR CLOSET). MY HAND WAS SMASHED BTWN THE CLOSET DOOR AND THE NEW COMPARTMENT; WHICH HOUSES THE FIRST CLASS 3 TIERED CART INSIDE OF THE CLOSET. X-RAYS AT COMPANY MEDICAL FACILITY IN DTW SHOWED MY HAND WAS NOT BROKEN. I GOT THE CUTS AND ABRASIONS CLEANED AND DRESSED AND RECEIVED A TETANUS SHOT. MY HAND IS STILL SORE A WK LATER; BUT I HAVE RETURNED TO WORK. ON THE NEWLY RECONFIGURED S80 ACFT; WHICH PROVIDES 20 FIRST CLASS SEATS; A 3 TIERED CART COMPARTMENT WAS ADDED TO THE FIRST CLASS COAT CLOSET AND IS HOUSED IN A VERY HARD; STEEL RIMMED COMPARTMENT INSIDE OF THE CLOSET. THIS ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR AGAIN IF THE COMPARTMENT IS NOT REDUCED IN SIZE; MOVED TOWARDS THE BACK; OR REMOVED AND RELOCATED. ANOTHER SOLUTION WOULD BE TO PUT ON A CLOSET DOOR THAT ACTUALLY ACTS LIKE A DOOR -- THIS TYPE OF ROLLING DOOR GETS STUCK A LOT AND IS ALWAYS TOUGH TO CLOSE. THE INJURY COUNSELOR TOLD ME THAT THEY GET A LOT OF SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.