Narrative:

Aircraft has the excess portion of the cockpit door seat belt secured in a manner that prevents easy access to the release buckle. Furthermore, the excess strap is wrapped around the cockpit door egress panel release handle, possibly preventing or at least hindering evacuation. Far 121.310 (F) emergency exit access (3) states 'the access from the aisle to the exits must not be obstructed by seats, berths, or other protrusions in a manner that would reduce the effectiveness of the exit.' I understand this section of the FARS may be addressing passenger emergency exits, but I believe flight crew emergency exits would not be less restrictive. Far 121.291 demonstration of emergency evacuation procedures (B) (3) states that each certificate holder must conduct a partial demonstration of emergency evacuation procedures if 'changing the number, location, type of emergency exits, or type of opening mechanism on emergency exits available for evacuation.' since the events of 09/tue/2001 have forced us to increase the strength of the cockpit door, I believe all the doors should be configured in a standardized manner. All of the seatbelt releases should be in the same location and the excess portion of the seatbelt should be stowed in a manner to prevent interference with the belt release or the panel release handle. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the carrier recently introduced new cockpit door security procedures which consist of blocking the lower part of the door with the fold out observer's seat. The reporter said the emergency exit door handle is secured by wrapping the observer's seat belt around the handle. The reporter stated this method would make an emergency evacuation difficult. The reporter said the carrier is 18 months away from a new type door modification.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FO RPTS COCKPIT DOOR SECURITY ACTION AND PROCS TAKEN BY THE CARRIER COULD HINDER FLC EVACUATION.

Narrative: ACFT HAS THE EXCESS PORTION OF THE COCKPIT DOOR SEAT BELT SECURED IN A MANNER THAT PREVENTS EASY ACCESS TO THE RELEASE BUCKLE. FURTHERMORE, THE EXCESS STRAP IS WRAPPED AROUND THE COCKPIT DOOR EGRESS PANEL RELEASE HANDLE, POSSIBLY PREVENTING OR AT LEAST HINDERING EVACUATION. FAR 121.310 (F) EMER EXIT ACCESS (3) STATES 'THE ACCESS FROM THE AISLE TO THE EXITS MUST NOT BE OBSTRUCTED BY SEATS, BERTHS, OR OTHER PROTRUSIONS IN A MANNER THAT WOULD REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EXIT.' I UNDERSTAND THIS SECTION OF THE FARS MAY BE ADDRESSING PAX EMER EXITS, BUT I BELIEVE FLC EMER EXITS WOULD NOT BE LESS RESTRICTIVE. FAR 121.291 DEMONSTRATION OF EMER EVACUATION PROCS (B) (3) STATES THAT EACH CERTIFICATE HOLDER MUST CONDUCT A PARTIAL DEMONSTRATION OF EMER EVACUATION PROCS IF 'CHANGING THE NUMBER, LOCATION, TYPE OF EMER EXITS, OR TYPE OF OPENING MECHANISM ON EMER EXITS AVAILABLE FOR EVACUATION.' SINCE THE EVENTS OF 09/TUE/2001 HAVE FORCED US TO INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE COCKPIT DOOR, I BELIEVE ALL THE DOORS SHOULD BE CONFIGURED IN A STANDARDIZED MANNER. ALL OF THE SEATBELT RELEASES SHOULD BE IN THE SAME LOCATION AND THE EXCESS PORTION OF THE SEATBELT SHOULD BE STOWED IN A MANNER TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE BELT RELEASE OR THE PANEL RELEASE HANDLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE CARRIER RECENTLY INTRODUCED NEW COCKPIT DOOR SECURITY PROCS WHICH CONSIST OF BLOCKING THE LOWER PART OF THE DOOR WITH THE FOLD OUT OBSERVER'S SEAT. THE RPTR SAID THE EMER EXIT DOOR HANDLE IS SECURED BY WRAPPING THE OBSERVER'S SEAT BELT AROUND THE HANDLE. THE RPTR STATED THIS METHOD WOULD MAKE AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION DIFFICULT. THE RPTR SAID THE CARRIER IS 18 MONTHS AWAY FROM A NEW TYPE DOOR MODIFICATION.

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.