What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 12/26/2018 at approximately 1000L N710GC was preflighted for a local day VFR sightseeing flight.
The PIC wasprivacy data omitted ATP privacy data omitted. Last pc 8/12/2018. Total flight time 17,000HRS. Total RV-10 flight time 277HRS.
Start and taxi were normal. All checklists were completed, and an engine run-up was completed prior to departing from kpsm runway 34 at approximately 1030L. Prior to takeoff, the aircraft was cleared for a left turn out. Flight following was not requested. Shortly before reaching the upwind numbers, a left turn was initiated at approximately 800 AGL to a more westerly direction and the plane was transitioned from takeoff to climb power. Reaching 1500 MSL the plane was configured for cruise using approximately 50% power. Light turbulence was encountered and the aircraft was in the process of slowing further. At 1,500 MSL and 135KTS indicated airspeed, the left door began to open. An un-successful attempt to force the door closed was made. However once the door reached approximately 1/3 open, it could no longer be controlled and departed aircraft. The exact location is unclear but suspect over or near the shoreline of great bay.
A turn back to the airport was initiated. With the door off, the wind noise made radio communication impossible. 7600 was set in the transponder and the aircraft was flown to enter a modified left base for runway 34. The landing was uneventfull. After landing, radio communications were once again possible. The tower was informed and taxi clearance to the t-hangars was received.
As the FAA filed it
ON 12/26/2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1000L N710GC WAS PREFLIGHTED FOR A LOCAL DAY VFR SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT.
THE PIC WAS^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATP ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. LAST PC 8/12/2018. TOTAL FLIGHT TIME 17,000HRS. TOTAL RV-10 FLIGHT TIME 277HRS.
START AND TAXI WERE NORMAL. ALL CHECKLISTS WERE COMPLETED, AND AN ENGINE RUN-UP WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO DEPARTING FROM KPSM RUNWAY 34 AT APPROXIMATELY 1030L. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR A LEFT TURN OUT. FLIGHT FOLLOWING WAS NOT REQUESTED. SHORTLY BEFORE REACHING THE UPWIND NUMBERS, A LEFT TURN WAS INITIATED AT APPROXIMATELY 800 AGL TO A MORE WESTERLY DIRECTION AND THE PLANE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM TAKEOFF TO CLIMB POWER. REACHING 1500 MSL THE PLANE WAS CONFIGURED FOR CRUISE USING APPROXIMATELY 50% POWER. LIGHT TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING FURTHER. AT 1,500 MSL AND 135KTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, THE LEFT DOOR BEGAN TO OPEN. AN UN-SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO FORCE THE DOOR CLOSED WAS MADE. HOWEVER ONCE THE DOOR REACHED APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OPEN, IT COULD NO LONGER BE CONTROLLED AND DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. THE EXACT LOCATION IS UNCLEAR BUT SUSPECT OVER OR NEAR THE SHORELINE OF GREAT BAY.
A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT WAS INITIATED. WITH THE DOOR OFF, THE WIND NOISE MADE RADIO COMMUNICATION IMPOSSIBLE. 7600 WAS SET IN THE TRANSPONDER AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN TO ENTER A MODIFIED LEFT BASE FOR RUNWAY 34. THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFULL. AFTER LANDING, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE ONCE AGAIN POSSIBLE. THE TOWER WAS INFORMED AND TAXI CLEARANCE TO THE T-HANGARS WAS RECEIVED.
Other reports on N710GC · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.