Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 227; Flight Crew Total 4209
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Ferry flight from ZZZ - ZZZ1. IAW (In Accordance With) SOP; all pre-departure ferry checklist items were completed prior to closing the cabin door. Gate Agent checked in with the cockpit crew and I told him that we were 'ready to go' and that he was cleared to close the door and pull the jetway. After the cabin door was closed I had doors 1L and 1R armed by the Deadheading Pilot; who is a current and qualified 737 First Officer. Doors were properly armed and the red 'ribbon' was pinned across the windows as per SOP. We had a few more items to complete in the cockpit before calling for pushback. Two minutes later our Deadheading Pilot entered the cockpit and told us that the Gate Agent opened the [forward entry] door [1L] and the slide was deployed but NOT inflated. I went back to verify the situation and once I did; I took a number of steps to first insure safety and second; to take care of the maintenance issue. Not knowing the state of the slide - whether or not it was going to inflate - I worked with Station Operations to ensure no unnecessary personnel were to approach the area. An ELB (Electronic Log Book) write up was entered and I talked directly to [Maintenance] to see if there was anything I needed to do prior to egressing the aircraft. At that point; Contract Maintenance arrived and I felt comfortable leaving the aircraft. To provide egress we had air-stairs brought to door 1R. Flight was subsequently canceled due to unavailable maintenance.This situation would not have occurred had the Gate Agent followed standard operating procedures. He did not look through the window to verify the red ribbon nor had he knocked on the window to get the attention of a crew member prior to opening the door. When I talked to him afterwards to ask why he needed to open the door he stated that he wanted to know if we needed more fuel. That was the fourth time during pre-departure that I was asked that question. Apparently there was a lot of confusion about the fuel load and he was asked by Station Operations to confirm with us so; in his haste; opened up the cabin door to ask me directly.
Captain reported that the Gate Agent opened the forward entry door and inadvertently deployed the slide; though it did not inflate.