Which action is appropriate if a door malfunctions and cannot be closed or sealed before departure?

• A. Continue with departure and fix later.
• B. Notify crew in charge, do not depart, and follow QRH.
• C. Attempt to seal the door using duct tape.
• D. Let maintenance handle it after landing.

Answer: (B)

When a door cannot be closed or sealed, the priority is to keep the aircraft safe by stopping the planned departure and following the prescribed non-normal procedures. Informing the crew in charge ensures the Captain or PIC can make the authority-approved decision to halt, coordinate with maintenance, and apply the QRH steps to address the door issue on the ground. The QRH provides the exact actions for a door malfunction, including how to verify the door status and whether the issue can be resolved or if the flight must be canceled or postponed. Proceeding without solving the door problem or attempting an improvised seal would risk loss of pressurization and cabin integrity, while relying on maintenance after landing would not mitigate the safety risk during taxi, takeoff, or in flight.