What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 3, 2017 at 2010 N599CZ a BE-99 operating under 14 CFR 135 cargo was departing Central Wisconsin Airport (kcwa). During the takeoff roll on runway 17 the pilot heard additional wind noise coming from the crew hatch area. Upon being assigned a heading after departure and climbing through the clouds the pilot attempted to secure the hatch. The pilot did note the one of the latching hooks had caught and were secured. During the attempt the hatch opened and exited the aircraft.
Upon review of the door unsafe checklist it states ?do not attempt to check the security of the cabin door in flight. Remain as FAR from the doors as possible with seatbelts fastened.? The checklist addresses the cabin door and not the crew hatch. The operator?s checklist does require the crew hatch to be ?secured; confirm visually? On the normal checklist in the before starting engines, before taxi and before takeoff sections.
The pilot did not declare an emergency, but did request a return to kcwa. The pilot landed without further incident. Post incident inspection minor damage to the aircraft from where the hinges were pulled from the fuselage.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 3, 2017 AT 2010 N599CZ A BE-99 OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR 135 CARGO WAS DEPARTING CENTRAL WISCONSIN AIRPORT (KCWA). DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 17 THE PILOT HEARD ADDITIONAL WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE CREW HATCH AREA. UPON BEING ASSIGNED A HEADING AFTER DEPARTURE AND CLIMBING THROUGH THE CLOUDS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE HATCH. THE PILOT DID NOTE THE ONE OF THE LATCHING HOOKS HAD CAUGHT AND WERE SECURED. DURING THE ATTEMPT THE HATCH OPENED AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.
UPON REVIEW OF THE DOOR UNSAFE CHECKLIST IT STATES ?DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHECK THE SECURITY OF THE CABIN DOOR IN FLIGHT. REMAIN AS FAR FROM THE DOORS AS POSSIBLE WITH SEATBELTS FASTENED.? THE CHECKLIST ADDRESSES THE CABIN DOOR AND NOT THE CREW HATCH. THE OPERATOR?S CHECKLIST DOES REQUIRE THE CREW HATCH TO BE ?SECURED; CONFIRM VISUALLY? ON THE NORMAL CHECKLIST IN THE BEFORE STARTING ENGINES, BEFORE TAXI AND BEFORE TAKEOFF SECTIONS.
THE PILOT DID NOT DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, BUT DID REQUEST A RETURN TO KCWA. THE PILOT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POST INCIDENT INSPECTION MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT FROM WHERE THE HINGES WERE PULLED FROM THE FUSELAGE.