Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 46
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Procedure; Aircraft
Climbing out; passing about 16;000 ft; we got a Master Caution Door with the aft service door light illuminated. QRH had us call Flight Attendant to check door handle. FA (Flight Attendant) reported the handle slightly 'up' but returned to 'down' position. Door light went out so no further Crew action required. Upon passing FL340 we got another Master Caution Door with aft service door light illuminated. Called FA again they stated the door handle 'up' slightly. When asked if they thought there was a problem with the door; they stated that it was the liquor bag they had hanging on the door handle and that when they were removing it they were raising the handle to the unlocked position. Upon landing I briefed them that they are not to hang anything from the door handle. To which they stated 'everyone does this; this is how we have always done it.' So on the following flights I briefed the FA's that they are not to hang anything from the door handles. To which they stated 'We always hang the recycle bag on the forward galley door and the liquor bag from the aft door' because that's how they 'were taught.' It was also mentioned that they have had several [bulletins] that told them not to do this.The fact that there have been [bulletins] issued to the FA's about not hanging items from the door handles; but that they continue to do it is troubling. There is a serious safety issue with this.
Air Carrier Captain reported that Flight Attendant procedure of hanging and removing liquor and recycle bags from cabin door handles caused inflight illumination of door warning lights.