Service difficulty report · Door · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
March 10, 2009
Submitted
April 9, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
10,107 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Door
Part number
5329615
Condition
Open
Location
Main Pax
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

(CAN) PILOTS REPORTED LWR ENTRANCE DOOR OPENED AT 2000 FT. "DOOR UNSAFE" ANNUNCIATOR LIGHTS WERE CHECKED "OUT" PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. PILOT RETURNED TO DEPARTURE AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. PILOTS INSPECTED DOOR AND LATCHING MECHANISMS AND CLOSED AND LOCKED DOOR NORMALLY AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO BASE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. MX INSPECTED DOOR AND SURROUNDING STRUCTURE FOR DAMAGE. NO DAMAGE OR MECHANICAL FAULT EVIDENT. DOOR OPERATION CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE INSIDE THE DOOR AND DOOR CHECKED SECURE. DOOR WARNING LIGHT OPERATION ALSO CHECKED SERVICEABLE. THE ONLY VISIBLE FAULT WAS THE FWD LOWER DOOR FWD SUPPORT CABLE SCREWS AT FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT FITTING FOUND SHEARED. MX COULD NOT IDENTIFY POSITIVE FAULT, OTHER THAN NORMAL WEAR, WITH THE DOOR OR LATCHING MECHANISM. AS A PRECAUTIONARY ACTION, DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM AFT LATCH PLATE P/N 41256-02, AFT DOOR LATCH BUSHING P/N 20737-44, AND DOOR LATCH SPRING P/N 83302-69 WERE REPLACED AND DOOR LATCH ADJUSTED. LWR DOOR FWD SUPPORT CABLE FUSELAGE ATTACH FITTING WAS RE-SECURED. DOOR OPERATION CHECKED SERVICEABLE.

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