# NTSB WPR11IA019: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N938SW, Phoenix, AZ, October 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2010, 14:34 local (21:34 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.434444, -112.011665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4344&lon=-112.0117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 53 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: SkyWest Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11IA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77615/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77615 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11IA019 ## Probable cause The overextension of the main cabin door due to difficulty opening the door because the power-assist motor cable was lodged within the main cabin door assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Equipment/furnishings: passenger compartment equip](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520/cases.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Standing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1390008), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight crew reported that, at the completion of the flight, the airplane taxied to the arrival gate, and ground personnel attempted to open the airplane's main passenger cabin door. The airplane had been dispatched with the main cabin door's power-assist motor inoperative, which was deferred via company maintenance procedures and the minimum equipment list. Ground personnel were unable to open the door and received assistance from the captain. Initially, the captain was unable to open the door, which was jammed in the closed position. After several attempts, the captain exerted a large force with his shoulder and was able to get the door to open. When the main cabin door was finally opened, it traveled beyond its normal extension limits and hit the pavement. The power-assist motor cable was found lodged within the door assembly. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2010, about 1425 mountain standard time, a Bombardier, Inc., CL-600-2B19, N938SW, operated by SkyWest Airlines as United Express flight #6522, landed at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. The scheduled domestic passenger flight taxied to the terminal gate, where the main passenger cabin door (MCD) became jammed shut and would not open. The airplane sustained minor damage to the MCD. There were no injuries to the 2 airline transport pilots, 1 flight attendant, or the 50 passengers. Visual weather conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX), about 1241 Pacific daylight time, with an intended destination of Phoenix. The captain reported to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator who was on the flight, that the MCD's power assist motor was inoperative when the flight was dispatched from LAX. He stated that he had been authorized to fly the airplane to PHX with the MCD's deferred maintenance status, and the flight was performed in accordance with SkyWest's minimum equipment list (MEL) procedures. The captain further reported that approaching PHX, he advised his company that ground personnel assistance would be required to open the door. The captain stated that he anticipated the MCD would open freely upon receiving assistance from personnel outside the airplane. A United Airlines employee who marshaled the airplane to the gate stated that after he chalked the nose wheel, the captain signaled him to open the MCD. The marshaller stated that he pulled on the latch to open the door, but it would not open. He followed the procedures he has used on numerous occasions to open this type of airplane door. However, on this occasion, he could not open the door. A captain, who was waiting on the jet bridge to fly the airplane on its next scheduled leg also attempted to open the door and was unsuccessful. This malfunction precluded passengers from immediately exiting the airplane. Shortly after, the incident captain exited the cockpit to assess the problem. The captain tried pushing on the door while personnel outside the airplane were pulling it open and while he was lifting the door handle from the inside. The captain stated "nothing worked." And he then returned to the cockpit and made a public address announcement to the passengers, stating that because of technical problems with the door, there would be a delay exiting the airplane. The captain opened the galley service door on the opposite of the airplane to acquire direct communication with outside ramp personnel. The captain said that his plan was to have the ramp personnel stow the door handle from the outside, and this would allow him to try opening the MCD from the inside. Following this plan, the captain pushed his shoulder against the door andused some exerted force. The door opened and extended beyond its normal limits and rotated downward until it impacted the tarmac. The elapsed time from the airplane arriving at the gate until the MCD was opened was about 10 minutes. The MCD sustained damage to its supporting wheel assembly and power assist motor cable. The cable was found stuck inside the door. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N938SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N938SW), registered now, S/N 7741, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B19 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7741 - Engines: GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan; GE CF34 SERIES 9140 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: SkyWest Airlines, doing business as United Express - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Na Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 13, 2010 - Departed: LAX, Los Angeles, CA - Destination: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl. ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 11,490 total, 4,618 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 8,871 total, 1,574 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: PHX ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77615. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 894 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Email (item 4, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email-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.