An A319 over wing Emergency Exit slide deployed as the crew attempted to seat the hatch seal which was dislodged when tampered with during a MCI overnight. Cockpit switches were also missed placed.
Synopsis
An A319 over wing Emergency Exit slide deployed as the crew attempted to seat the hatch seal which was dislodged when tampered with during a MCI overnight. Cockpit switches were also missed placed.
Narrative
My crew and I arrived at the same airplane that we brought in the night before to begin our duty day. The airplane was not in the same condition that we left it in the night before. For example; cockpit switches were out of place; one galley carrier was missing; and the right overwing escape hatch seal was badly out of place. The Flight Attendants were positively sure that it was flush and secure the night before. I didn't know what to make of this except to think someone had tampered with the hatch. I lifted the cover to the hatch handle expecting to see the 'slide armed' light come on. It did not; so I gently and very slightly cracked the hatch to put the seal back in to it's proper position. I was able to do that successfully and we began boarding. Prior to pushback I noticed we did not have an armed indication on the right over wing hatch on the SD Lower ECAM. I told the Flight Attendants this and they began working with the door in an attempt to get it armed. I walked back in the cabin to observe what was going on. The Flight Attendants were working with the the hatch and I returned to the cockpit to see if the door was armed. During this process the slide deployed; even though the slide never indicated 'ARMED' either on the SD Lower ECAM or at the hatch itself. I believe the hatch was tampered with overnight because the seals were out of place and the hatch was disarmed. Upon arrival at our destination and getting a brief on how this was possible; I am sure of it. I believe the Flight Attendant may have accidentally jiggled the arm lever while trying to seat the hatch. I would suggest more training on how these hatches are armed and disarmed would have been very beneficial in this case. I can see how the Flight Attendants were confused as to what was actually going on with this hatch. It should be further emphasized that these hatches should only be administered to by maintenance. I think MCI personnel should be carefully scrutinized in this case. Too many things were amiss with this aircraft on such a short overnight; switches out of place; items missing and this hatch.
Second reporter narrative
Prior to pushback; I heard the other crewmembers mention the right overwing emergency exit door seal being out of place; but really didn't pay much attention as I attended to my other preflight duties; which were more than usual because some of the cockpit switches were out of place; even though we had flown this aircraft in the previous night. It wasn't until we were ready to pushback that we noticed the right overwing slide was not armed. The Captain walked back to assess the situation. We still did not have a white slide armed light. After returning to the cockpit and conferring with Flight Attendants; the Flight Attendants attempted to reseat the hatch. During this process the slide deployed. Sounds crazy; but it seems like the hatch was tampered with while the aircraft was overnight in MCI. We brought the airplane in the night before; and everything was fine. When we got to the airplane the next morning; the the Flight Attendants found the hatch seal out of place. Also; in the cockpit; a number of things were not as we left them. The most telling was that the transponder switch was moved to STBY. We never move that switch in the Airbus; and I flew the airplane in. Someone had to move that switch overnight.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.