Escape hatch fell off aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	317399
Time
Date	199509
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mwo
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : day
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Twin Beech 18
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	317399
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While unloading freight in biv, I noticed that the cover for the escape hatch had been snagged and was loose. I then checked to make sure that the hatch was secure, then left to head home to mwo. The flight was smooth and uneventful. I did notice, however, in the descent a sudden bump and the airplane's elevator moved slightly. I figured it had just been a little turbulence. When I arrived home, I saw that the escape hatch had come loose and had fallen from the airplane. I feel that while unloading the plastic bag covered carpet the hatch's release button must have been slightly depressed and loosened. The vibrations of flight must have released the hatch and caused it to fall.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ESCAPE HATCH FELL OFF ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE UNLOADING FREIGHT IN BIV, I NOTICED THAT THE COVER FOR THE ESCAPE HATCH HAD BEEN SNAGGED AND WAS LOOSE. I THEN CHKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HATCH WAS SECURE, THEN LEFT TO HEAD HOME TO MWO. THE FLT WAS SMOOTH AND UNEVENTFUL. I DID NOTICE, HOWEVER, IN THE DSCNT A SUDDEN BUMP AND THE AIRPLANE'S ELEVATOR MOVED SLIGHTLY. I FIGURED IT HAD JUST BEEN A LITTLE TURB. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I SAW THAT THE ESCAPE HATCH HAD COME LOOSE AND HAD FALLEN FROM THE AIRPLANE. I FEEL THAT WHILE UNLOADING THE PLASTIC BAG COVERED CARPET THE HATCH'S RELEASE BUTTON MUST HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND LOOSENED. THE VIBRATIONS OF FLT MUST HAVE RELEASED THE HATCH AND CAUSED IT TO FALL.

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.