Mdt crew had a 'passenger door handle' warning light illuminate after takeoff. They returned to the ...

Attributes
ACN	514418
Time
Date	200106
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gso.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tracon : bhm.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 630
ASRS Report	514418
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : door warning light other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During climb out, we got a passenger door handle message indicating outer door handle had popped out. We stopped climb and accomplished QRH procedure. Pressurization was normal and all door pins were aligned but we could not stow outer handle. The QRH called for return to nearest suitable airport. Due to our altitude, we elected to return to rdu instead of actual nearest airport of gso. Once we began descent and set up for the approach and return we were at rdu and could better accommodate the maintenance and the passenger. Maintenance checked door latches and determined it needed lubrication. We were released shortly thereafter and no further problems were experienced. The reason for this report is the interpretation of 'nearest suitable airport.' I feel we made a good decision on 'suitable' for both maintenance and passenger. The situation was controled and it took no more time to land than it would have at the nearest airport to the aircraft at the time of the occurrence. This decision was not challenged by maintenance or dispatch, when radio contact was made before returning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT CREW HAD A 'PAX DOOR HANDLE' WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE AFTER TKOF. THEY RETURNED TO THE DEP STATION.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, WE GOT A PAX DOOR HANDLE MESSAGE INDICATING OUTER DOOR HANDLE HAD POPPED OUT. WE STOPPED CLB AND ACCOMPLISHED QRH PROC. PRESSURIZATION WAS NORMAL AND ALL DOOR PINS WERE ALIGNED BUT WE COULD NOT STOW OUTER HANDLE. THE QRH CALLED FOR RETURN TO NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. DUE TO OUR ALT, WE ELECTED TO RETURN TO RDU INSTEAD OF ACTUAL NEAREST ARPT OF GSO. ONCE WE BEGAN DSCNT AND SET UP FOR THE APCH AND RETURN WE WERE AT RDU AND COULD BETTER ACCOMMODATE THE MAINT AND THE PAX. MAINT CHKED DOOR LATCHES AND DETERMINED IT NEEDED LUBRICATION. WE WERE RELEASED SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND NO FURTHER PROBS WERE EXPERIENCED. THE REASON FOR THIS RPT IS THE INTERP OF 'NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.' I FEEL WE MADE A GOOD DECISION ON 'SUITABLE' FOR BOTH MAINT AND PAX. THE SIT WAS CTLED AND IT TOOK NO MORE TIME TO LAND THAN IT WOULD HAVE AT THE NEAREST ARPT TO THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. THIS DECISION WAS NOT CHALLENGED BY MAINT OR DISPATCH, WHEN RADIO CONTACT WAS MADE BEFORE RETURNING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Mdt crew had a 'passenger door handle' warning light illuminate after takeoff. They returned to the departure station.