Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	189152
Time
Date	199109
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6400 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 1950 flight time type : 95
ASRS Report	189152
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While in cruise flight the passenger door of a low wing small aircraft popped open. We heard and saw the door come ajar. After reading an advisory circular on the doors of these aircraft coming open, I immediately slowed the aircraft down while my passenger who is also a pilot tried to shut and secure it. After he tried, I trimmed the aircraft and tried to help him. We did get the door shut, however, we lost 600 ft in altitude. I notified ATC of the altitude and situation and that we were climbing back to our assigned altitude. The controller acknowledged and that was the end of the situation. I felt the situation was handled reasonably well. I flew the airplane and my passenger worked with the door. When he could not get it shut, I felt we would have to work together to get it shut. Maybe I could have trimmed it out better, since the altitude hold on the autoplt wasn't working as well as I would have liked. I didn't put it on. I didn't feel that using the autoplt was the thing to do. It was VFR so I was able to see where I was going.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT THE PAX DOOR OF A LOW WING SMA POPPED OPEN. WE HEARD AND SAW THE DOOR COME AJAR. AFTER READING AN ADVISORY CIRCULAR ON THE DOORS OF THESE ACFT COMING OPEN, I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED THE ACFT DOWN WHILE MY PAX WHO IS ALSO A PLT TRIED TO SHUT AND SECURE IT. AFTER HE TRIED, I TRIMMED THE ACFT AND TRIED TO HELP HIM. WE DID GET THE DOOR SHUT, HOWEVER, WE LOST 600 FT IN ALT. I NOTIFIED ATC OF THE ALT AND SITUATION AND THAT WE WERE CLBING BACK TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT. THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE SITUATION. I FELT THE SITUATION WAS HANDLED REASONABLY WELL. I FLEW THE AIRPLANE AND MY PAX WORKED WITH THE DOOR. WHEN HE COULD NOT GET IT SHUT, I FELT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT SHUT. MAYBE I COULD HAVE TRIMMED IT OUT BETTER, SINCE THE ALT HOLD ON THE AUTOPLT WASN'T WORKING AS WELL AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED. I DIDN'T PUT IT ON. I DIDN'T FEEL THAT USING THE AUTOPLT WAS THE THING TO DO. IT WAS VFR SO I WAS ABLE TO SEE WHERE I WAS GOING.

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.