Narrative:

[Shortly before top of descent] the first officer called the flight attendant [to come forward so he could] go back and use the restroom. The a flight attendant came up and relieved the first officer. When the first officer was ready to return he knocked on the flight deck door. The a flight attendant looked through the peephole and attempted to open the cockpit door but was unable as it had become jammed somehow. [While] she attempted multiple times to pull the door open; the first officer called and I advised him of the situation. While this was going on center gave us a clearance to cross the intersection at FL330. We were currently at FL370 and the intersection was approximately 15 miles ahead of us. The first officer and I remained in communication trying to resolve the stuck door and I was advising the flight attendant on what to do to attempt to free the door. I moved the cockpit door switch from normal to unlock numerous times although no faults were showing but this didn't help. Around this time center called us. I had missed the descent point with the door jam distraction and they advised us to maintain FL370. I advised the flight attendant through coordination with the first officer to unlatch the cockpit door escape panel and push it out to allow the first officer to climb thru and back into the cockpit. The flight attendant was able to do so and the first officer returned to the cockpit thru the panel. He then was able to forcibly open the cockpit door. The flight attendant exited the cockpit and the first officer returned the panel to its normal position and returned the pins. He then resumed pilot not flying duties. I informed center of what had happened which led to the distraction and missed crossing restriction. Nothing further was said from ATC. The flight was completed uneventfully; I entered a write up in the logbook and maintenance was called out to fix the cockpit door. Maintenance found that all but one screw were missing from the door frame causing it to jam the door. Repairs were made and the logbook signed off; returning the aircraft to service. This was a rare occurrence and a significant distraction in the flight deck. In [retrospect]; I should have included ATC in what was happening on the flight deck and requested to remain at altitude.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When the First Officer of an A320 returned to the flight deck after a break the Flight Attendant was unable to open the door to allow him to return. During the extended time required to find a way for the pilot to gain admittance the Captain failed to comply with a descent clearance due to distractions directing potential solution suggestions to the Flight Attendant.

Narrative: [Shortly before top of descent] the First Officer called the Flight Attendant [to come forward so he could] go back and use the restroom. The A Flight Attendant came up and relieved the First Officer. When the First Officer was ready to return he knocked on the flight deck door. The A Flight Attendant looked through the peephole and attempted to open the cockpit door but was unable as it had become jammed somehow. [While] she attempted multiple times to pull the door open; the First Officer called and I advised him of the situation. While this was going on Center gave us a clearance to cross the intersection at FL330. We were currently at FL370 and the intersection was approximately 15 miles ahead of us. The First Officer and I remained in communication trying to resolve the stuck door and I was advising the Flight Attendant on what to do to attempt to free the door. I moved the cockpit door switch from normal to unlock numerous times although no faults were showing but this didn't help. Around this time Center called us. I had missed the descent point with the door jam distraction and they advised us to maintain FL370. I advised the Flight Attendant through coordination with the First Officer to unlatch the cockpit door escape panel and push it out to allow the First Officer to climb thru and back into the cockpit. The Flight Attendant was able to do so and the First Officer returned to the cockpit thru the panel. He then was able to forcibly open the cockpit door. The Flight Attendant exited the cockpit and the First Officer returned the panel to its normal position and returned the pins. He then resumed pilot not flying duties. I informed Center of what had happened which led to the distraction and missed crossing restriction. Nothing further was said from ATC. The flight was completed uneventfully; I entered a write up in the logbook and Maintenance was called out to fix the cockpit door. Maintenance found that all but one screw were missing from the door frame causing it to jam the door. Repairs were made and the logbook signed off; returning the aircraft to service. This was a rare occurrence and a significant distraction in the flight deck. In [retrospect]; I should have included ATC in what was happening on the flight deck and requested to remain at altitude.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.