First Officer of an HS-125 unable to exit lavatory engaged services of a passenger to break through the recalcitrant lock.
Synopsis
First Officer of an HS-125 unable to exit lavatory engaged services of a passenger to break through the recalcitrant lock.
Narrative
In cruise flight at FL410 over Wyoming I needed to use the lavatory and check up on our passengers. The Captain assumed control of the flight while I entered the cabin. When finished; I attempted to unlock the lavatory door; however the door lock had remained in the locked or engaged position; not allowing me to open it. I was able to press the call button inside the lavatory to notify the flight deck of assistance needed. In addition; I communicated the problem to our passenger in the aircraft cabin. He then relayed to the Captain what had occurred. The Captain informed the company over the flight phone and spoke with Maintenance Control in an attempt to determine the cause of the jammed door and how to open it. After several attempts the passenger was able to disengage the door latch and open the door. He had to wedge a car key into the doorframe and free up the lock. 15-20 minutes transpired during this event; during which I was unable to perform my pilot duties. After the door was unlocked; I left the lavatory and assumed my pilot position in the flight deck. Aircraft remained under complete control of the Captain. He had remained in the flight deck the entire time; utilizing supplemental oxygen (one crewmember in the cockpit) and assuming pilot flying duties while communicating with company; ATC; and passengers.
Second reporter narrative
I heard a bumping noise coming from the rear of the cabin. My first thought was that maybe the evaporator sock in the ACM was dirty which sometimes causes a bumping noise. There was no observable fluctuation of the cabin rate needle; but the bumping; pounding noise continued. I looked back at the passengers to see if; by their expressions; they were aware of this noise. This is when I noticed the lavatory door handle rotating without the door opening. Then the lavatory chime rang in the cockpit and I knew for sure my First Officer was stuck in the lavatory. I got the attention of the lead passenger and asked him if he could aide in opening the lavatory door which he attempted to do. I took off the oxygen mask and; while still monitoring ATC on COMM 2; called Operations via the flight phone to inform him of our predicament and to ask for suggestions on how to get the door open. The on-duty maintenance controller was conferenced in on the call as well. After a few minutes of pushing on the door; alternately from either side and lifting and pulling down on the door while simultaneously manipulating the latches; the door still would not open. The cross-bolt latch was jammed. The 'occupied/vacant' sign on the forward face of the lavatory door changed with movement of the small tab on the forward face of the door adjacent to the sign without the door latch opening. The First Officer considered crawling through the lavatory closet to the luggage closet just forward of the lavatory door but this particular aircraft had a rigid wall divider unlike some Hawkers; which have a cargo net separating the two closets. The use of the crash ax was starting to look like the best option for opening the door; but I guess at some point enough pressure was applied to the cross bolt latch with all the pushing and pounding that it broke flush with the door jam allowing the door to open. The First Officer rejoined me in the cockpit. I informed Operations that the door had finally opened. The passengers found the whole situation rather humorous and did not seem concerned. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. My suggestion for preventing this situation from recurring is to not use the lavatory cross bolt latch during flight; or remove the cross bolt portion and just let the slide handle manipulate the 'occupied/vacant' sign on the door without the locking function. Or simply pull the door closed without touching the cross bolt latch.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.