BE5 passenger door opened at 4000 ft in IMC. A loose shoulder harness banged against the rear window and the aircraft entered an unusual altitude as the pilot attempted to retrieve harness and close door. Pilot recovered 2000 ft below assigned altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	678845
Time
Date	200511
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : olm.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s46.tracon
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 : 35 flight time total : 635 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	678845
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude cabin event other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight. When the cabin door opened about 2 inches; the passenger shoulder harness flew out; and the buckle began banging against the rear window. I attempted to retrieve the harness and close the door. When I turned back to the controls; the airplane was in an unusual altitude and 2000 ft below the assigned altitude. I recovered and proceeded uneventfully (though the window was damaged). I learned a number of lessons: 1) fly the airplane first! 2) make absolutely certain all doors are secure. 3) use the autoplt in cruise.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE5 PAX DOOR OPENED AT 4000 FT IN IMC. A LOOSE SHOULDER HARNESS BANGED AGAINST THE REAR WINDOW AND THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNUSUAL ALT AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE HARNESS AND CLOSE DOOR. PLT RECOVERED 2000 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT. WHEN THE CABIN DOOR OPENED ABOUT 2 INCHES; THE PAX SHOULDER HARNESS FLEW OUT; AND THE BUCKLE BEGAN BANGING AGAINST THE REAR WINDOW. I ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE HARNESS AND CLOSE THE DOOR. WHEN I TURNED BACK TO THE CTLS; THE AIRPLANE WAS IN AN UNUSUAL ALT AND 2000 FT BELOW THE ASSIGNED ALT. I RECOVERED AND PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY (THOUGH THE WINDOW WAS DAMAGED). I LEARNED A NUMBER OF LESSONS: 1) FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST! 2) MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN ALL DOORS ARE SECURE. 3) USE THE AUTOPLT IN CRUISE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.