Boeing has received reports from other operators experienced the same condition, which led to the issuance of Ref /B/ Service Letters to address this condition. Possible causes are:
a. O-ring missing in handle mechanism (M83461/1-212 O-ring). Look inside through the hole in the handle pan to see if the O-ring is in the groove (you can’t see it from the inside of the door because there is a bearing in the way). If the O-ring is in the groove and not damaged, then the next step would be to disassemble the handle shaft and check the spring for damage or weakness. Note: If the O-ring wasn’t properly in the groove, it will most likely fall out when the shaft is removed.
b. A retaining spring pin for the cylinder end cap missing. The spring pin P/N is MS39086-111. See 149A6109 assy for details.
c. Internal spring failure (broken or weak spring). This condition is rare. Since spring is used in compression, if the spring was to have broken, the remaining spring would still push the handle towards the stowed position. However, the handle would get loose because of the lost spring compression. The handle would be able to be manually stowed, but would not want to stay there, like a spring is in one piece. P/N for Exterior Handle Recess Spring is 63-2848.
d. Operator did not stow the handle properly before flight. The handle is not designed to be self-stowing. The spring is designed to keep it in the stowed position.
The Switch Depressor Bracket is intended to be a simple ‘line replaceable’ part and to bend and/or fail before physically damaging the switch, it is design to be weaker than the switch. If high strength material used on this bracket, the switch own may be damaged prior to the bracket damage.