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37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
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Diversion to alternate airport by a BE35 private pilot when cockpit door top latch comes loose. Unable to contact ATC, pilot diverts to aio, relatches door and takes off. Also, door latch comes loose a second tie. Pilot returned to airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 638538 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200411 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : aio.airport |
| State Reference | IA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 11000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zmp.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Bonanza 35 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 330 flight time type : 20 |
| ASRS Report | 638538 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | Other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | contributing factor : schedule pressure contributing factor : weather performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : testing performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : logbook entry |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
IFR flight in BE35 (1958 J model) route oma-V8-dsm-alo-cmy. Climbed to 11000 ft in IFR conditions, moderate turbulence, airspeed approximately 140 KIAS. Initially heard a 'whistle' and noted a gap at top edge of door. In about 2 mins door 'popped' and opened about 3 inches. Unable to contact ZMP on assigned frequency, therefore, changed to 121.5, declared pan-pan and intention to deviate from flight plan and land at atlantic, ia, airport. Uneventful landing. Relatched door on ground and took off, resuming flight plan. Door opened a second time requiring a repeat landing. Latch appeared to be functional but needs to be firmly latched to the stop to prevent inadvertent opening in-flight.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE ARPT BY A BE35 PVT PLT WHEN COCKPIT DOOR TOP LATCH COMES LOOSE. UNABLE TO CONTACT ATC, PLT DIVERTS TO AIO, RELATCHES DOOR AND TAKES OFF. ALSO, DOOR LATCH COMES LOOSE A SECOND TIE. PLT RETURNED TO ARPT.
Narrative: IFR FLT IN BE35 (1958 J MODEL) RTE OMA-V8-DSM-ALO-CMY. CLBED TO 11000 FT IN IFR CONDITIONS, MODERATE TURB, AIRSPD APPROX 140 KIAS. INITIALLY HEARD A 'WHISTLE' AND NOTED A GAP AT TOP EDGE OF DOOR. IN ABOUT 2 MINS DOOR 'POPPED' AND OPENED ABOUT 3 INCHES. UNABLE TO CONTACT ZMP ON ASSIGNED FREQ, THEREFORE, CHANGED TO 121.5, DECLARED PAN-PAN AND INTENTION TO DEVIATE FROM FLT PLAN AND LAND AT ATLANTIC, IA, ARPT. UNEVENTFUL LNDG. RELATCHED DOOR ON GND AND TOOK OFF, RESUMING FLT PLAN. DOOR OPENED A SECOND TIME REQUIRING A REPEAT LNDG. LATCH APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONAL BUT NEEDS TO BE FIRMLY LATCHED TO THE STOP TO PREVENT INADVERTENT OPENING INFLT.
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.