# NTSB ANC09CA048: Piper PA-32-301, N8374T, Birchwood, AK, May 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2009, 16:00 local (May 16, 2009, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Birchwood, AK - Coordinates: 61.41611, -149.508331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4161&lon=-149.5083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 73913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73913/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73913 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA048 ## Probable cause The failure of maintenance personnel to properly maintain the cargo door latch, resulting in an in-flight opening and separation of the cargo door, and substantial damage to the horizontal stabilator when it was struck by remnants of the cargo door. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Doors: cargo/baggage doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035230): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035230/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035230/cases.md) - [Doors: cargo/baggage doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035230): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035230/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035230/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was ferrying the airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, to an airport to be painted. During cruise flight, the upper portion of the aft cargo door separated from the airplane, striking the horizontal stabilator. The pilot said he believed the door was latched securely prior to the flight. The flight continued to the destination airport and landed uneventfully. An examination of the fuselage-mounted upper door latch by an FAA inspector showed that the upper portion of the latch striker plate was missing, and the door locking mechanism was not properly aligned with the latch. The FAA inspector noted that it appeared that the missing portion of the latching plate had been missing long before the accident, and should have been found on routine maintenance inspections. The upper portion of the door was not recovered. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the stabilator. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot was ferrying the airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91, to an airport to be painted. During cruise flight, the upper portion of the aft cargo door separated from the airplane, striking the horizontal stabilator. The pilot said he believed the door was latched securely prior to the flight. The flight continued to the destination airport and landed uneventfully. An examination of the fuselage-mounted upper door latch by an FAA inspector showed that the upper portion of the latch striker plate was missing, and the door locking mechanism was not properly aligned with the latch. The FAA inspector noted that it appeared that the missing portion of the latching plate had been missing long before the accident, and should have been found on routine maintenance inspections. The upper portion of the door was not recovered. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the stabilator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8374T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8374T), registered now, S/N 32-8106058, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8106058 - Airframe hours: 12550 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Carlos Sean N, doing business as Alaska Island Air, Inc. - Registered owner: Carlos Sean N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 3, 2009 - Departed: MRI, Merrill Field, AK - Destination: PABV, Birchwood, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 17, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 10,084 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 9,678 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090515047189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090515047189A), May 15, 2009: Piper PA-32-301, Eagle River, AK, Minor damage. Telephone interview with pilot [privacy data omitted] about aft cargo door top leaving aircraft in flight see attached pilot narrative. It appears the j hook… ## Other investigations on N8374T (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC96LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA027), Mar 2, 1996: Piper PA-32-301 (N8374T), Nome, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain. Low ceilings and snow covered terrain were factors in… - [NTSB ANC93LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA019), Dec 4, 1992: Piper PA-32-301 (N8374T), Scammon Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOTS VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WHITEOUT SNOW AND FOG CONDITIONS. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73913. 687 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 650 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Roc FAA (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.