MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate
Human Factors
Cleared for takeoff. Set standard takeoff power. Coffee thermos fell off first observer's seat as aircraft began to accelerate. Master caution light and DC Bus 1 Off Level 1 Alert illuminated. Rejected takeoff at 40 knots. Taxied clear and complied with QRH Rejected Takeoff. Noted DC Bus 1 Off as a 'No T/O' alert. Due to the location of the DC Bus 1 Sensing Circuit Breaker; suspect it popped when the thermos hit it coming off the jumpseat. With Maintenance consult; reset circuit breaker; and it stayed in. Because it was written up in conjunction with the Rejected Takeoff; we taxied back to have maintenance clear the write up before takeoff. Because the c/b stayed in and had no faults associated with it; the FO and I are fairly certain that the impact of the coffee thermos on the c/b panel caused the breaker to open. It is my habit pattern to secure the coffee jug when I preflight the cockpit if I note one there; but not already secured. When I preflighted the aircraft; the jug was not present. In our discussions of the event; the FO also stated that he is in the habit of securing the coffee if he sees it loose. He stated it was not there when he came in the cockpit as well. I suspect that the ramp agent brought the jug into the cockpit and set it on the first observer's jumpseat and said nothing to either of us. We were unaware of its presence. Once takeoff power was applied the acceleration caused the jug to hit the c/b panel. Many ground personnel simply don't have or consider the perspective of the type of forces present in a moving aircraft. Over the years I've noted (and rejected) DG containers with loads that were laterally secure; but free to float vertically in the event of turbulence. This is a similar situation. The jug is solid and when placed in the jump seat seems 'secure'; but will cause trouble when the forces of an airliner are applied. The coffee jugs need to be secured in the galley; thermos holders; or strapped into the jumpseat if placed in the cockpit. Ground personnel (specifically ramp agents) need to be aware that just setting the jug in the cockpit is not safe. Most are very good about 'positive hand off' of the jug when bringing them aboard. Routinely; I find jugs sitting on the jumpseat; the crew seats; and the floors of the cockpit and courier areas. In the big scheme of things; this is relatively low-threat; but it is a threat nonetheless. In 20 years I have seen the thermos shift on takeoff on several occasions... and never seen a popped c/b. While we were lucky that this was nothing more than a popped c/b and a low speed rejected takeoff; it doesn't take much to see that this has the potential of being very dangerous if the wrong 'system' gets knocked off line.Simply placing the jug on the seat and saying nothing to the crew is not acceptable.
MD-11 Captain reported a coffee jug rolled off the observer seat during takeoff roll apparently striking the circuit breaker panel and causing an electrical issue that required a rejected takeoff.