EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Time Pressure; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Inadvertent deployment of baggage fire bottle. The non-flying pilot was attempting to shut down the APU as usual climbing through 10;000 FT. The fire test button was selected instead. This caused the baggage smoke warnings to be generated; so I followed the memory item and pressed the lit baggage fire extinguishing button. The fire test was selected because it's similarly shaped and located just above the normal button we use to shut down the APU. My adrenaline was going and so I rushed and did an unnecessary memory item.Possibly changing the design of one of the switches. Also; better discipline when it comes to dealing with possible emergency scenarios. Take an extra moment to let the adrenaline subside; reevaluate the situation; and coordinate with the other crew.
An EMB-145 First Officer conducting the 10;000 FT APU shutdown Climb Checklist inadvertently selected the Baggage Smoke Warning test switch; which is similar in shape and location to the APU switch. The Captain then discharged the baggage fire bottle in response to the BAGGAGE SMOKE WARNING test.