Door popped open on IFR approach. Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	97945
Time
Date	198811
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sdf
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 6
ASRS Report	97945
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cleared to intercept the localizer for ILS runway 29 sdf, during the course interception cabin door blew open resulting in a nose down pitching moment. The resulting altitude loss was 400', putting the aircraft below the minimum altitude for that phase of the approach. After securing the door a normal approach and landing was completed. Would recommend an installation of a second latch mechanism in the passenger door assembly in the small aircraft to prevent such occurrences.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DOOR POPPED OPEN ON IFR APCH. ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: CLRED TO INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR ILS RWY 29 SDF, DURING THE COURSE INTERCEPTION CABIN DOOR BLEW OPEN RESULTING IN A NOSE DOWN PITCHING MOMENT. THE RESULTING ALT LOSS WAS 400', PUTTING THE ACFT BELOW THE MINIMUM ALT FOR THAT PHASE OF THE APCH. AFTER SECURING THE DOOR A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WAS COMPLETED. WOULD RECOMMEND AN INSTALLATION OF A SECOND LATCH MECHANISM IN THE PAX DOOR ASSEMBLY IN THE SMA TO PREVENT SUCH OCCURRENCES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.