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Pilot of an small transport turboprop had the airstair main door come open and fall off the aircraft during descent in turbulence. Cause not known, but suspect improper latching of the door.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 344460 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199608 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : hts |
| State Reference | WV |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 12200 msl bound upper : 16000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zid |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 600 |
| ASRS Report | 344460 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency other other |
| Consequence | faa : investigated Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
During descent from FL210 (IFR flight in VFR conditions) to 14000 ft, cabin airstair door opened while aircraft was pressurized. Descent was at reduced airspeed of 160 KIAS due to moderate turbulence. At 16000 ft cabin door unlatched and opened during a series of rapid turbulence encounters. Turbulence was severe to extreme. The door departed the airframe and has not been found. During evaluation of the situation, assigned altitude of 13000 ft was busted by 700-800 ft low. Lower altitude was requested as a priority. No emergency declared. Flight terminated at hts (destination). No damage to airframe. Pilot only person aboard.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF AN SMT TURBOPROP HAD THE AIRSTAIR MAIN DOOR COME OPEN AND FALL OFF THE ACFT DURING DSCNT IN TURB. CAUSE NOT KNOWN, BUT SUSPECT IMPROPER LATCHING OF THE DOOR.
Narrative: DURING DSCNT FROM FL210 (IFR FLT IN VFR CONDITIONS) TO 14000 FT, CABIN AIRSTAIR DOOR OPENED WHILE ACFT WAS PRESSURIZED. DSCNT WAS AT REDUCED AIRSPD OF 160 KIAS DUE TO MODERATE TURB. AT 16000 FT CABIN DOOR UNLATCHED AND OPENED DURING A SERIES OF RAPID TURB ENCOUNTERS. TURB WAS SEVERE TO EXTREME. THE DOOR DEPARTED THE AIRFRAME AND HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. DURING EVALUATION OF THE SIT, ASSIGNED ALT OF 13000 FT WAS BUSTED BY 700-800 FT LOW. LOWER ALT WAS REQUESTED AS A PRIORITY. NO EMER DECLARED. FLT TERMINATED AT HTS (DEST). NO DAMAGE TO AIRFRAME. PLT ONLY PERSON ABOARD.
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.