Atx small transport altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude.

Attributes
ACN	164598
Time
Date	199012
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cou
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cou
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 2350 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	164598
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the morning of 12/X/90, I was on an air taxi flight to pick up 1 passenger at cps. At this time I was in cruise at 5000' MSL, when the lower rear door opened. I made center aware of my problem and asked for clearance to cou. I was cleared to the airport direct and handed off to approach. I told approach I had the airport in sight and was cleared for a visibility to runway 20. During this time I was assessing the possible damage and preparing to read the checklist. Realizing the amount of drag the door was producing, I elected to keep my altitude and spiral down over the airport. I told the tower my intentions and received the requested clearance. However, at this time I realized I was now at 5500', 500' above the initial altitude. I don't feel this created a problem--it actually improved my situation and allowed me time ot analyze the dilemma. Once on the ground (which was an uneventful landing), the problem was discovered to be a faulty locking mechanism in the door itself.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMT ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: ON THE MORNING OF 12/X/90, I WAS ON AN AIR TAXI FLT TO PICK UP 1 PAX AT CPS. AT THIS TIME I WAS IN CRUISE AT 5000' MSL, WHEN THE LOWER REAR DOOR OPENED. I MADE CENTER AWARE OF MY PROB AND ASKED FOR CLRNC TO COU. I WAS CLRED TO THE ARPT DIRECT AND HANDED OFF TO APCH. I TOLD APCH I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WAS CLRED FOR A VIS TO RWY 20. DURING THIS TIME I WAS ASSESSING THE POSSIBLE DAMAGE AND PREPARING TO READ THE CHKLIST. REALIZING THE AMOUNT OF DRAG THE DOOR WAS PRODUCING, I ELECTED TO KEEP MY ALT AND SPIRAL DOWN OVER THE ARPT. I TOLD THE TWR MY INTENTIONS AND RECEIVED THE REQUESTED CLRNC. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I WAS NOW AT 5500', 500' ABOVE THE INITIAL ALT. I DON'T FEEL THIS CREATED A PROB--IT ACTUALLY IMPROVED MY SITUATION AND ALLOWED ME TIME OT ANALYZE THE DILEMMA. ONCE ON THE GND (WHICH WAS AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG), THE PROB WAS DISCOVERED TO BE A FAULTY LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE DOOR ITSELF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.