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When a rear seat passenger aboard a training flight inadvertently activated both the release and safety mechanisms of the DA40's 'gull wing' cabin door it separated from the aircraft. A safe return and landing was accomplished and there were no injuries.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1083354 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201304 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | DA40 Diamond Star |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Door |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying Instructor |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130 Flight Crew Total 5000 Flight Crew Type 150 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Trainee |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 58 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct |
Narrative:
After performing flight maneuvers on a rental checkout; a passenger in the left rear seat of the aircraft; despite being briefed on the proper use of the door; operated the main door latch into the open position. The design of the aircraft is such that the rear door opens in a 'gull wing' style; so when the primary latch is disengaged outside airflow causes the door to open approximately one inch where it is held by the secondary latch. The noise and sudden airflow startled the passenger which caused him to grab the first handle he could reach to keep the door closed which resulted in him grabbing; and consequently releasing; the secondary latch. With both latches released; the door opened into the airflow and separated from the aircraft. This event did not result in any injuries.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: When a rear seat passenger aboard a training flight inadvertently activated both the release and safety mechanisms of the DA40's 'gull wing' cabin door it separated from the aircraft. A safe return and landing was accomplished and there were no injuries.
Narrative: After performing flight maneuvers on a rental checkout; a passenger in the left rear seat of the aircraft; despite being briefed on the proper use of the door; operated the main door latch into the open position. The design of the aircraft is such that the rear door opens in a 'gull wing' style; so when the primary latch is disengaged outside airflow causes the door to open approximately one inch where it is held by the secondary latch. The noise and sudden airflow startled the passenger which caused him to grab the first handle he could reach to keep the door closed which resulted in him grabbing; and consequently releasing; the secondary latch. With both latches released; the door opened into the airflow and separated from the aircraft. This event did not result in any injuries.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.