Pilot Debrief

Cessna 402 near Barnstable, MA — 2020-02-12

Final reportERA20CA100
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Date
2020-02-12
Location
Barnstable, MA, USA
Airport
HYA
Aircraft
Cessna 402
Registration
N409BK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to properly secure the crew hatch door before takeoff, which resulted in the door’s forward hinge assembly tearing from its fuselage mount point.

NTSB narrative

According to the operator, during initial climb, the door warning light illuminated, and the crew hatch door opened. The door's forward hinge assembly was then torn from its fuselage mount point along with adjacent aircraft skin, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the door safety latch, warning system, and door latching mechanism worked properly. The operator reported that it was possible to latch the door with the forward pin in its proper anchor point and with the aft pin outside the airframe with the warning light extinguished. The operator further reported that, after the accident, this was covered in aircrew training and the company standard operating procedures.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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