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Pilot door on small aircraft aircraft came open shortly after takeoff. Pilot continued climb to 500 AGL then closed door.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 113041 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198906 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : rdg |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 400 agl bound upper : 500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : rdg |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | climbout : initial |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : student |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 38 flight time type : 38 |
| ASRS Report | 113041 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : non radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Just after takeoff, about 50' AGL, pilot door popped open. Maintained climb to 500' AGL utilizing some extra right rudder for directional control. At 500' AGL, leveled off and closed door. During preflight I remember pushing on both doors from the inside and both seemed latched well. My first inclination when it popped open was to immediately close it. Remembering items in aviation monthly, however, I decided it was better to gain altitude then close door. I also remember thinking that people have died trying to close the door and it was better to gain altitude where if I did lose control I could hopefully regain control before crashing. I also remember thinking that I should lean away from the door as if I partially fell out with some turbulence it would be all over. This was my second flight in 5 months, the first being with an instructor 3 days prior. I didnot feel I was rushing things but I may not have pushed as hard as I usually do on the doors.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT DOOR ON SMA ACFT CAME OPEN SHORTLY AFTER TKOF. PLT CONTINUED CLIMB TO 500 AGL THEN CLOSED DOOR.
Narrative: JUST AFTER TKOF, ABOUT 50' AGL, PLT DOOR POPPED OPEN. MAINTAINED CLIMB TO 500' AGL UTILIZING SOME EXTRA RIGHT RUDDER FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. AT 500' AGL, LEVELED OFF AND CLOSED DOOR. DURING PREFLT I REMEMBER PUSHING ON BOTH DOORS FROM THE INSIDE AND BOTH SEEMED LATCHED WELL. MY FIRST INCLINATION WHEN IT POPPED OPEN WAS TO IMMEDIATELY CLOSE IT. REMEMBERING ITEMS IN AVIATION MONTHLY, HOWEVER, I DECIDED IT WAS BETTER TO GAIN ALT THEN CLOSE DOOR. I ALSO REMEMBER THINKING THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT WAS BETTER TO GAIN ALT WHERE IF I DID LOSE CONTROL I COULD HOPEFULLY REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE CRASHING. I ALSO REMEMBER THINKING THAT I SHOULD LEAN AWAY FROM THE DOOR AS IF I PARTIALLY FELL OUT WITH SOME TURBULENCE IT WOULD BE ALL OVER. THIS WAS MY SECOND FLT IN 5 MONTHS, THE FIRST BEING WITH AN INSTRUCTOR 3 DAYS PRIOR. I DIDNOT FEEL I WAS RUSHING THINGS BUT I MAY NOT HAVE PUSHED AS HARD AS I USUALLY DO ON THE DOORS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.