An A320 flight crew noticed the cockpit door security keypad was deferred inoperative and they were ...

Attributes
ACN	708235
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : act.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	708235
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While reviewing papers; crew noted that cockpit door keypad was deactivated. Our concern was that there was no way to open cockpit door from cabin in an emergency. MEL for deferral did not mention anything about this fact. If there is no way to open door from cabin; pilots are at risk if incapacitated in an emergency. With this in mind; recommend that the MEL be reviewed and changed as appropriate. In the old days; we had a key in the cabin and if it was lost then flight could not occur. The electric lock should be regarded the same way.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states he refused the aircraft until they fixed the keypad. He recalls that when the reinforced doors were first installed; flight crews were reassured that emergency access would be provided from the cabin; hence the keypad; which doesn't do much good if the aircraft can be dispatched with it inoperative.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 FLT CREW NOTICED THE COCKPIT DOOR SECURITY KEYPAD WAS DEFERRED INOP AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ACCESS TO THE COCKPIT FROM THE CABIN IN AN EMER.

Narrative: WHILE REVIEWING PAPERS; CREW NOTED THAT COCKPIT DOOR KEYPAD WAS DEACTIVATED. OUR CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN COCKPIT DOOR FROM CABIN IN AN EMER. MEL FOR DEFERRAL DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FACT. IF THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN DOOR FROM CABIN; PLTS ARE AT RISK IF INCAPACITATED IN AN EMER. WITH THIS IN MIND; RECOMMEND THAT THE MEL BE REVIEWED AND CHANGED AS APPROPRIATE. IN THE OLD DAYS; WE HAD A KEY IN THE CABIN AND IF IT WAS LOST THEN FLT COULD NOT OCCUR. THE ELECTRIC LOCK SHOULD BE REGARDED THE SAME WAY.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE REFUSED THE ACFT UNTIL THEY FIXED THE KEYPAD. HE RECALLS THAT WHEN THE REINFORCED DOORS WERE FIRST INSTALLED; FLT CREWS WERE REASSURED THAT EMER ACCESS WOULD BE PROVIDED FROM THE CABIN; HENCE THE KEYPAD; WHICH DOESN'T DO MUCH GOOD IF THE ACFT CAN BE DISPATCHED WITH IT INOP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

An A320 flight crew noticed the cockpit door security keypad was deferred inoperative and they were concerned that there would be no access to the cockpit from the cabin in an emergency.