AN AIRBUS A319 JUST REMOVED SLIDE FROM MAIN ENTRY DOOR 1-LEFT SUDDENLY DEPLOYED IN MECHANICS' HANDS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE SLIDE IN SHIPPING CONTAINER. SAFETY PIN NOT INSTALLED PRIOR TO REMOVAL FROM DOOR.

Narrative

CALLOUT TO CHANGE DOOR 1R SLIDE. REMOVED SLIDE COVER; AND TRIED TO INSTALL SAFETY PIN IN SLIDE BEFORE REMOVAL. SAFETY PIN WOULD NOT LINE-UP; PIN NOT GOING IN; LOOKED WITH MIRROR AND NOTICED SAFETY PIN OPENING WAS NOT LINED UP FOR PIN INSTALLATION. REMOVED SLIDE FROM DOOR AND TRIED ONCE AGAIN TO INSTALL SAFETY PIN; PIN STILL WOULD NOT GO IN. INSTALLED NEW SLIDE ON DOOR AND PULLED SAFETY PIN ON NEW SLIDE AND CHKED TO SEE IF PINS WOULD GO BACK IN ON NEW SLIDE AND IT EASILY WENT IN. REMOVED PIN AND INSTALLED IN HOLDING POUCH OF NEW SLIDE. CARRIED OLD SLIDE DOWN ENTRY STAIRS WITH SAFETY PIN NOT INSTALLED AND AS WE WERE ABOUT TO INSTALL IT IN CONTAINER; SLIDE DEPLOYED IN OUR HANDS. MYSELF AND THE MECH WORKING WITH ME DROPPED SLIDE AND RAN. NEITHER I NOR THE OTHER MECH I WAS WORKING WITH GOT INJURED OR ANY DAMAGE TO ACFT. NO DELAY TO ACFT. INFORMED SUPVR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 768650: CALLOUT TO CHANGE DOOR 1R EVAC SLIDE FOR TIME. PIN COULD NOT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE PIN INSTALLATION OPENING WAS BLOCKED.