- Date
- May 26, 2023, 09:58 local (13:58 UTC)
- Place
- Melbourne, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N680CBRaytheon B300
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20230526005889A
- Case key
- 192247
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An inflight separation of the airplane’s airstair door for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the multiengine turboprop airplane was flying over the ocean at FL340 when he heard an “explosion.” He quickly donned his oxygen mask, declared an emergency with air traffic control, and descended to 12,000 ft. The pilot subsequently diverted the flight and landed the airplane uneventfully. After landing he observed that the airstair door had completely separated from the fuselage. The inflight separation of the airstair door and resulting depressurization of the airplane’s cabin constituted substantial damage to the airframe. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that portions of the airstair door hinges remained attached to the fuselage, the airstair door handle anchor had failed, and the door damper support was bent and its upper bolt sheared. The six door plate strikers on the fuselage were undamaged. The airstair door was not recovered and the condition of its securing mechanisms could not be examined. Given this information, the reason for the inflight separation of the door could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N680CB
- Reported as
- Raytheon B300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- FL-499
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 3,604
- Engines
- P&W PT6A-67A, 1,200 horsepower, turbo propP&W PT6A-67A, 1,200 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dalks Leasing Inc
- Registered owner
- Dalks Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 28, 2023
- Departed
- MYAT · Treasure Cay, OF
- Destination
- GSP · Greer, SC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 14, 2022
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 11,127 total · 835 in this make and model · 11,127 as pilot in command · 61 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 7.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.83 inHg
- Observed at
- MLB
- METAR
- KMLB 261353Z 31005KT 10SM CLR 26/21 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP100 T02560211
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.