# NTSB CEN09CA470: Raytheon C90A, N405DD, Bismarck, ND, July 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2009, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Bismarck, ND - Coordinates: 46.772777, -100.745834 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7728&lon=-100.7458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA470 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74387/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74387 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA470 ## Probable cause The cabin entry door inadvertently opening during initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had the copilot close the cabin entry door, which later came open while the airplane climbed through 500 feet above ground level after takeoff. The pilot executed a return to the departure airport where the airplane was landed without further incident. The door remained attached at the hinge and about half of the door skin was pulled away resulting in damage to the airplane pressure vessel. The pilot stated that the CABIN DOOR annunciator was never illuminated. The operator reported that all the door latches were in the extended positions after the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot had the copilot close the cabin entry door, which later came open while the airplane was climbing through 500 feet above ground level after takeoff. The pilot executed a return to the departure airport where the airplane was landed without further incident. The door remained attached at the hinge and about half of the door skin was pulled away resulting in substantial damage to the airplane pressure vessel. The pilot stated that the CABIN DOOR annunciator was never illuminated. The operator reported that all the door latches were in the extended positions after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N405DD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N405DD), registered now, S/N LJ-1748 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY C90A - Registry model: [Raytheon C90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-c90a) (registry code 7150004) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ1748 - Airframe hours: 1037 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: UND Aerospace Foundation - Registered owner: UND Aerospace Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 20, 2009 - Departed: BIS, Bismarck, ND - Destination: GFK, Grand Forks, ND - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BIS, Bismarck Municipal Airport, runway 31, 8,794 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 4,843 total, 56 in this make and model, 2,367 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2008; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: BIS ## 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 20090723020189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090723020189A), Jul 23, 2009: Beech C90A, Bismarck, ND, Substantial damage. On July 23, 2009 at 1235 local time, a Beechcraft BE-C90, N405DD owned and operated by the university of north dakota sustained substantial damage during… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74387. 618 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 618 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.