Service difficulty report · Structure · Beech C23

Difficulty date
September 6, 2001
Submitted
September 6, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N20087
Make and model
Beech C23
Aircraft serial
M2063
Engine
Lyc VO360*
Part
Structure
Part number
169420036147
Condition
Broken
Location
Lt Door
Part time
8,100 hours
Stage of operation
AP
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E, F
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

PILOTS REPORTED SEVERE BUFFET DURING SLOW FLIGHT, APPROACH TO LANDING, ROUND-OUT, AND FLARE. BUFFET WAS AGGRAVATED BY LEFT SLIP. FOUND BOTTOM DOOR GASKET MISSING AND FIBERGLASS DOOR STRUCTURE BROKEN AT LAST RIVET ON DIAGONAL GUSSET. THIS ALLOWED AIR ESCAPING FROM CABIN TO DISRUPT AIRFLOW OVER THE WING AND STABILATOR. FABRICATED HAT SECTION CHANNEL FROM 0.032 2024-T3, BONDED TO FIBERGLASS CHANNEL WITH HYSOL EA9309, AND RIVETED THROUGH OUTSIDE SKIN. INSTALLED NEW DOOR GASKET. FOUND RIGHT CABIN DOOR BROKEN ALSO. SUSPECT CAUSE IS DUE TO PILOTS LEAVING DOORS OPEN AND UNATTENDED TO COOL CABIN AND WIND OPENING DOOR HARD AGAINST THE STOP.

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