- Date
- August 29, 1992, 20:26 local (Aug 30, 1992, 04:26 UTC)
- Place
- Sheldon Point, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N53NSShort Brothers SH-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19920829043799I
- Case key
- 5661
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The unlatching of the left crew entrance door by means undetermined and the lack of adherence to door check items by the pilot in command on the requisite checklists. A factor relating to the incident was the separation of the door from the frame when opened into the slipstream.
Analysis
The left cockpit door behind pilot the position opened into airstream at 50 ft AGL on initial climbout. The door deparated and damaged left propeller and fuselage skin. The pilot completed single engine procedures and proceded IMC to alternate and completed IFR approach and landing without further incident. The door was not found. It was undetermined if the door latch malfunctioned for personnel failed to close the latch. Cockpit lighting does not illuminate as a function of the door latch. Thee is no warning light to warn of an unlatched door. The door hinges are mounted on the aft frame of the door opening, thus swinging rearward in front of propeller.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53NS
- Reported as
- Short Brothers SH-7
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1920
- Airframe hours
- 5,837
- Engine
- Garrett TPE331-2-201A, 715 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Camai Air, doing business as Village Aviation
- Registered owner
- North Star Air Cargo
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · August 26, 1992 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- SXP
- Destination
- KSM · St Marys, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SXP · Sheldons Point, runway 2, 2,200 × 50 ft, dirt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,500 total · 3,200 in this make and model · 6,000 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 140° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.