What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On descent from 14000, the pilot noticed a door light illumination. He checked the rear door which appeared normal and when he reached for the left crew door handle, the door opened fully and rested on the top of the fuselage. Further investigation by an airworthiness inspector indicated it appeared the latch pins were not protruding the required .80 inches, however, it was impossible to determine for certain due to damage to the door. The hand bellcrank assembly appeared to operate normally, however, it appeared to have worn/sloppy rigging. A check of Cessna maintenance manual revealed it does not require a pull test of the break over pressure of the handle and only a general visual inspection. Another 402 revealed a positive over center lock. Two different lock mechanisms are made by Cessna, see block 45 for final information.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON DESCENT FROM 14000, THE PILOT NOTICED A DOOR LIGHT ILLUMINATION. HE CHECKED THE REAR DOOR WHICH APPEARED NORMAL AND WHEN HE REACHED FOR THE LEFT CREW DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR OPENED FULLY AND RESTED ON THE TOP OF THE FUSELAGE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY AN AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR INDICATED IT APPEARED THE LATCH PINS WERE NOT PROTRUDING THE REQUIRED .80 INCHES, HOWEVER, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE FOR CERTAIN DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR. THE HAND BELLCRANK ASSEMBLY APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY, HOWEVER, IT APPEARED TO HAVE WORN/SLOPPY RIGGING. A CHECK OF CESSNA MAINTENANCE MANUAL REVEALED IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A PULL TEST OF THE BREAK OVER PRESSURE OF THE HANDLE AND ONLY A GENERAL VISUAL INSPECTION. ANOTHER 402 REVEALED A POSITIVE OVER CENTER LOCK. TWO DIFFERENT LOCK MECHANISMS ARE MADE BY CESSNA, SEE BLOCK 45 FOR FINAL INFORMATION.
Other reports on N5550K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.