Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Type 9500
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
When the Captain left the flight deck to take a bathroom break he failed to allow a Flight Attendant into the flight deck.  The Captain proceeded to the lavatory and once he realized he didn't allow a Flight Attendant to enter the flight deck; realized his mistake and called up to the First Officer.  The First Officer answered the call and allowed the Captain back into the flight deck.  The flight continued uneventfully. Anytime leaving the flight deck allow a Flight Attendant to access the flight deck.  Once the Captain shut the door to the flight deck a Flight Attendant should have said something right away to the Captain; reminding him that a Flight Attendant must occupy the flight deck and there should be two Crew Members in the flight deck at all times.
My First Officer called back to the cabin informing the Flight Attendants that we needed a bathroom break. The B Flight Attendant came up while my First Officer used the bathroom. He returned eventually to the flight deck. I then proceeded out to use the bathroom; closing the cockpit door behind me without realizing no Flight Attendant had gone up into the cockpit. After coming out of the bathroom; my mistake was brought to my attention. I returned to the cockpit and apologized to the Flight Attendants and my First Officer. The flight continued on and landed uneventfully.I have been off from work for almost five weeks. I honestly think the time away from routine procedures (such as this) had an effect. I certainly won't make the same mistake in the future.
Air carrier flight crew reported the Captain mistakenly shut the cockpit door before a Flight Attendant went into the cockpit during a bathroom break.