CABIN ATTENDANT EJECTED OUT WITH THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WHEN OPENING THE DOOR AT THE GATE AFTER RETURNING DUE TO A PRESSURIZATION PROB.

Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF (LESS THAN 30 SECONDS) A 'DOOR LATCH' WARNING FOLLOWED BY 'PAX DOOR' WARNING APPEARED ON THE EICAS PRIMARY PAGE. CVG APCH WAS NOTIFIED OF OUR PROB. I WAS THE PF AND THE CAPT RAN THE QRH PROC AND CHKLISTS. WE ENTERED A 'BOX PATTERN' UNTIL WE WERE READY FOR THE APCH. THE QRH PROC CALLED FOR MANUAL CTL OF THE PRESSURIZATION SYS. THE CAPT CALLED MAINT AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE AIRPLANE'S PRESSURIZATION; DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRPLANE'S INTERNAL PRESSURE. I WANTED THE CAPT TO CHK WITH MAINT IF WE COULD ACTIVATE THE EMER DEPRESSURIZATION. FROM WHAT I COULD UNDERSTAND; THE MAINT CONTACT REASSURED THE CAPT THAT IT WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR US TO LAND WITH THE INDICATED PRESSURE OF -200. AS WE OPENED THE COCKPIT DOOR AT THE GATE; THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS STANDING BY THE PAX DOOR; AND SAID 'I CAN'T GET THE DOOR OPEN.' BEFORE I COULD SAY ANYTHING (IT WAS A 'RED FLAG' TO ME; AND I WAS ABOUT TO TELL HER NO) THE NEXT MOMENT; A LOUD NOISE COUPLED WITH A RAPID EJECTION OF THE PAX DOOR AND THE FLT ATTENDANT. SHE WAS NOT INJURED; BUT VISIBLY SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE. SHE HELD ON TO THE DOOR AS IT OPENED AND WENT OUT WITH IT; AND LANDED HEAD DOWN ON THE DOOR. CONSIDERATIONS: THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IN SEVERAL WAYS. FIRST; IF THE QRH PROC HAD CALLED FOR THE EMER DEPRESSURIZATION TO BE ACTIVATED; AT LEAST AFTER LNDG IN CASE THE MANUAL MODE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY OR WAS NOT OPERATED PROPERLY; WHICH WOULD BE A TRAINING ISSUE. EITHER WAY; IT WOULD ELIMINATE FUTURE PRESSURIZATION PROBS ON THE GND AND PREVENT CREW INJURY UPON OPENING THE PAX DOOR. SECONDLY; THE DISTURBING INCIDENT WHICH THE FLT ATTENDANT EXPERIENCED COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF SHE HAD RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO STAY SEATED; UNTIL ADVISED IT WOULD BE SAFE TO OPEN THE PAX DOOR. SUCH INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE STANDARD ANY TIME PRESSURIZATION PROBS HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED.