Improperly secured float compartment hatch separates in flight, hatch door and seaplane land separat...

Attributes
ACN	145925
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : frg
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : frgt
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other ground : preflight
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	145920
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon leveling off at 1600' one of the float compartment doors separated from the left amphibious float in flight. This caused an uneven airflow over the top surface of the float, and a buffeting was felt. I immediately returned to frg airport and made an uneventful landing. The door was retrieved with no injury or property damage. FAA was notified by frg tower! Compartment door was put back on aircraft and resecured by 4 bolts which had loosened mysteriously.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMPROPERLY SECURED FLOAT COMPARTMENT HATCH SEPARATES IN FLT, HATCH DOOR AND SEAPLANE LAND SEPARATELY.

Narrative: UPON LEVELING OFF AT 1600' ONE OF THE FLOAT COMPARTMENT DOORS SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT AMPHIBIOUS FLOAT IN FLT. THIS CAUSED AN UNEVEN AIRFLOW OVER THE TOP SURFACE OF THE FLOAT, AND A BUFFETING WAS FELT. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO FRG ARPT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. THE DOOR WAS RETRIEVED WITH NO INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. FAA WAS NOTIFIED BY FRG TWR! COMPARTMENT DOOR WAS PUT BACK ON ACFT AND RESECURED BY 4 BOLTS WHICH HAD LOOSENED MYSTERIOUSLY.

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.

Improperly secured float compartment hatch separates in flight, hatch door and seaplane land separately.