AS350 loses seat cushion through open door while in-flight in dfw airspace on a photo mission.

Attributes
ACN	428735
Time
Date	199902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	AS 350 Astar/Ecureuil
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	428735
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Per the manufacturer's flight manual, both starboard side cabin doors were removed and all loose items, including all seat cushions not in use, were stowed in the baggage compartments. While in cruise flight at 65 KIAS the cameraman leaned forward and released pressure on the seat back cushion. The cushion was then sucked out of the aircraft through the open doorway. As no noises or vibrations were noted we continued to the nearest airport and landed to verify that no damage occurred. The cushion did not impact the aircraft and there was no damage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AS350 LOSES SEAT CUSHION THROUGH OPEN DOOR WHILE INFLT IN DFW AIRSPACE ON A PHOTO MISSION.

Narrative: PER THE MANUFACTURER'S FLT MANUAL, BOTH STARBOARD SIDE CABIN DOORS WERE REMOVED AND ALL LOOSE ITEMS, INCLUDING ALL SEAT CUSHIONS NOT IN USE, WERE STOWED IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENTS. WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 65 KIAS THE CAMERAMAN LEANED FORWARD AND RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE SEAT BACK CUSHION. THE CUSHION WAS THEN SUCKED OUT OF THE ACFT THROUGH THE OPEN DOORWAY. AS NO NOISES OR VIBRATIONS WERE NOTED WE CONTINUED TO THE NEAREST ARPT AND LANDED TO VERIFY THAT NO DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE CUSHION DID NOT IMPACT THE ACFT AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE.

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.