Small aircraft pilot aborts takeoff when cabin door pops open.

Attributes
ACN	216760
Time
Date	199207
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gcn
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	216760
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the above date and time I was departing gcn when on the takeoff roll my door popped open. My preflight was done on the ramp and checklist completed when I was delayed slightly for departure so I opened the door for ventilation and taxied to the hold short line at runway 21. When cleared for takeoff I closed the door, got to position and was cleared for takeoff. About 1/2 of the distance required for takeoff the door popped open. I advised the tower that I was going to abort and that 2 charts flew out the door. The tower advised me to return to the ramp, they would have maintenance return my charts. It is not certain whether I double locked the door or not, but if I didn't, that could have avoided the situation. While on the ramp an FAA representative came over the lectured me about necessity of proper checklist usage which may have prevented the occurrence. Henceforth after securing the door and double locking it I will push on the top rear corner of door to check if it would pop open. This may be able to prevent or at least discover if all locks are properly set.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ABORTS TKOF WHEN CABIN DOOR POPS OPEN.

Narrative: ON THE ABOVE DATE AND TIME I WAS DEPARTING GCN WHEN ON THE TKOF ROLL MY DOOR POPPED OPEN. MY PREFLT WAS DONE ON THE RAMP AND CHKLIST COMPLETED WHEN I WAS DELAYED SLIGHTLY FOR DEP SO I OPENED THE DOOR FOR VENTILATION AND TAXIED TO THE HOLD SHORT LINE AT RWY 21. WHEN CLRED FOR TKOF I CLOSED THE DOOR, GOT TO POS AND WAS CLRED FOR TKOF. ABOUT 1/2 OF THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR TKOF THE DOOR POPPED OPEN. I ADVISED THE TWR THAT I WAS GOING TO ABORT AND THAT 2 CHARTS FLEW OUT THE DOOR. THE TWR ADVISED ME TO RETURN TO THE RAMP, THEY WOULD HAVE MAINT RETURN MY CHARTS. IT IS NOT CERTAIN WHETHER I DOUBLE LOCKED THE DOOR OR NOT, BUT IF I DIDN'T, THAT COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE SITUATION. WHILE ON THE RAMP AN FAA REPRESENTATIVE CAME OVER THE LECTURED ME ABOUT NECESSITY OF PROPER CHKLIST USAGE WHICH MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE OCCURRENCE. HENCEFORTH AFTER SECURING THE DOOR AND DOUBLE LOCKING IT I WILL PUSH ON THE TOP REAR CORNER OF DOOR TO CHK IF IT WOULD POP OPEN. THIS MAY BE ABLE TO PREVENT OR AT LEAST DISCOVER IF ALL LOCKS ARE PROPERLY SET.

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.