Air carrier small transport return land stl when overwing emergency exit comes open in-flight.

Attributes
ACN	240875
Time
Date	199305
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 192 flight time total : 4075 flight time type : 1405
ASRS Report	240875
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 165 flight time total : 1850 flight time type : 166
ASRS Report	241271
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On climb out from st louis lambert, one of the window type emergency exits came loose at the top attach point, and came into the cabin approximately 1 ft in distance. The bottom attach point of the emergency exit was holding intact. The PIC took over the controls of the aircraft, while the sic promptly secured the emergency exit. The PIC asked ATC for a precautionary return to st louis, and it was granted. No emergency was declared or necessary. After landing without incident, and after reseating the emergency exit hatch while on the ground (engines off), the flight crew confirmed absolute safety of the emergency exit. The flight then started again and proceeded without further incident. Corrective action is difficult to determine because an extensive preflight was performed early that same morning and everything checked good. I believe the exit and/or exit seal had worked its way loose over the course of the day. As a precaution, I had a qualified mechanic completely inspect entire area of exit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR SMT RETURN LAND STL WHEN OVERWING EMER EXIT COMES OPEN INFLT.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM ST LOUIS LAMBERT, ONE OF THE WINDOW TYPE EMER EXITS CAME LOOSE AT THE TOP ATTACH POINT, AND CAME INTO THE CABIN APPROX 1 FT IN DISTANCE. THE BOTTOM ATTACH POINT OF THE EMER EXIT WAS HOLDING INTACT. THE PIC TOOK OVER THE CTLS OF THE ACFT, WHILE THE SIC PROMPTLY SECURED THE EMER EXIT. THE PIC ASKED ATC FOR A PRECAUTIONARY RETURN TO ST LOUIS, AND IT WAS GRANTED. NO EMER WAS DECLARED OR NECESSARY. AFTER LNDG WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND AFTER RESEATING THE EMER EXIT HATCH WHILE ON THE GND (ENGS OFF), THE FLC CONFIRMED ABSOLUTE SAFETY OF THE EMER EXIT. THE FLT THEN STARTED AGAIN AND PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CORRECTIVE ACTION IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE BECAUSE AN EXTENSIVE PREFLT WAS PERFORMED EARLY THAT SAME MORNING AND EVERYTHING CHKED GOOD. I BELIEVE THE EXIT AND/OR EXIT SEAL HAD WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY. AS A PRECAUTION, I HAD A QUALIFIED MECH COMPLETELY INSPECT ENTIRE AREA OF EXIT.

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.