AN MD80 CAPT RPTS THE MD80 COCKPIT DOOR IS EASILY BROKEN BY SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT. THE WEAK POINT OF THE DOOR IS A NYLON GUIDE AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR; AND WHEN BROKEN; THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY.

Date: 2006-11 · Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical

Synopsis

AN MD80 CAPT RPTS THE MD80 COCKPIT DOOR IS EASILY BROKEN BY SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT. THE WEAK POINT OF THE DOOR IS A NYLON GUIDE AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR; AND WHEN BROKEN; THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY.

Narrative

THE COCKPIT DOOR ON THE MD80 IS EASILY BROKEN BY 'SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT.' THERE IS A NYLON GUIDE THAT RESTS AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR THAT ACTS AS A GUIDE OPENING AND CLOSING. I HAVE HAD TWO ...[SITUATIONS WHERE; WITH] THE FLT ATTENDANT 'SLAMMING/FORCING' THE DOOR; THE NYLON SLIDE HAS BROKEN. THESE ARE NOT STOCK ITEMS; AND IN BOTH CASES CAUSED A FLT CANCELLATION AS NO PART COULD BE FLOWN IN FOR HOURS. WE CANNOT TEACH FLT ATTENDANTS TO SLAM ONE DOOR AND NOT THE OTHER. THE MD80 DOOR EITHER CONNECTS CLOSED AND LATCHED BY POSITION OR IT DOES NOT. SLAMMING DOES NOT HELP AND LEADS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BREAKING THE DOOR. WITHOUT THE NYLON GUIDE; THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY. FLT CANCELLATION RESULTS. LETS NOT TEACH 'SLAMMING THE DOOR.'CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE MD80 COCKPIT DOOR HAS A MECHANICAL WEAK POINT AGGRAVATED BY TRAINING THE CABIN ATTENDANTS TO SLAM THE COCKPIT DOOR WHEN CLOSING. WITH WEAR; THE NYLON GUIDE WEAKENS. ONE GOOD SLAM WHEN CLOSING; AND THE GUIDE BREAKS AND THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE RPTR ALSO RELATED TWO COMS FROM B757 FLT CREWS ON THE CABIN ATTENDANTS NOT CLOSING THE DOOR MORE FIRMLY RESULTING IN THE DOOR SUDDENLY SWINGING OPEN. ONE ON TAKEOFF AND THE OTHER IN FLT.

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