Aircraft equipment problem -- the aircraft entry door failed in-flight and pressurization was lost.

Attributes
ACN	303720
Time
Date	199505
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oma
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp artcc : zsu
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Conquest I/Conquest II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1980 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	303720
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During climb out, a loud bang followed by a 'mist' and wind noise was noticed. Back passenger reported a door failure. Center was notified of an emergency and our request for a return to oma which we had just departed less than 15 mins before. The 'bang' was heard while climbing near 16000 ft. Priority was given to an immediate landing. After using oxygen, reduced power, began descent, and 'checked out' the aircraft by checking instruments and communicating with passenger. Continued descent until near 10000 ft, when oxygen was terminated. Requested the proper ILS frequency and responded to ATC questions. Landed without further unusual action. Upon landing, learned that the upper portion of the door had separated at the hinge point. After separating, the door did not hit any remaining portion of the aircraft. (The door-lock light on the annunciator panel was working before flight. After the door was closed by another pilot, the light went off).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EQUIP PROB -- THE ACFT ENTRY DOOR FAILED INFLT AND PRESSURIZATION WAS LOST.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A 'MIST' AND WIND NOISE WAS NOTICED. BACK PAX RPTED A DOOR FAILURE. CTR WAS NOTIFIED OF AN EMER AND OUR REQUEST FOR A RETURN TO OMA WHICH WE HAD JUST DEPARTED LESS THAN 15 MINS BEFORE. THE 'BANG' WAS HEARD WHILE CLBING NEAR 16000 FT. PRIORITY WAS GIVEN TO AN IMMEDIATE LNDG. AFTER USING OXYGEN, REDUCED PWR, BEGAN DSCNT, AND 'CHKED OUT' THE ACFT BY CHKING INSTS AND COMMUNICATING WITH PAX. CONTINUED DSCNT UNTIL NEAR 10000 FT, WHEN OXYGEN WAS TERMINATED. REQUESTED THE PROPER ILS FREQ AND RESPONDED TO ATC QUESTIONS. LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER UNUSUAL ACTION. UPON LNDG, LEARNED THAT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE DOOR HAD SEPARATED AT THE HINGE POINT. AFTER SEPARATING, THE DOOR DID NOT HIT ANY REMAINING PORTION OF THE ACFT. (THE DOOR-LOCK LIGHT ON THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL WAS WORKING BEFORE FLT. AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED BY ANOTHER PLT, THE LIGHT WENT OFF).

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.