Service difficulty report · Door · Amtr RV10

Difficulty date
September 26, 2009
Submitted
September 29, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N78MU
Make and model
Amtr RV10
Aircraft serial
40428
Aircraft time
170 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540D4A5
Engine time
170 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC2YR1
Part
Door
Part number
C1012R
Condition
Separated
Location
Main Pax
Part time
170 hours
Component
Pax Door
Component part number
C1002R
Stage of operation
TO
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

PASSENGER DOOR NOT LATCHED AT AFT PIN PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. SOON AFTER ROTATION DOOR OPENED AND THEN SEPARATED FROM ACFT AT HINGE CONNECTION ON DOOR. DOOR DID NOT CONTACT ACFT AND FELL TO SIDE OF RUNWAY WITH MINOR DAMAGE. PILOT CONTINUED CLIMB AND ENTERED PATTERN FOR UNEVENTFUL LANDING. TAXIED TO HANGAR AND SHUTDOWN ENGINE. NO DAMAGE TO MAIN STRUCTURE OF ACFT. DOOR WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF HINGE, LIKELY PLEXIGLASS WINDOW, AND GAS STRUT.