What was found
MAIN DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN DOOR. RED BAR SEPARATED FROM AIRCRAFT. LEFT IN BAGGAGE FOR MX. PERFORMED INSPECTION OF MAIN CABIN ENTRY DOOR AT SIGNATURE T1 FOLLOWING REPORTS OF ENTRY DIFFICULTY. FOUND MAIN DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WITH ONLY A PARTIAL SEGMENT REMAINING, RENDERING THE EXTERNAL LOCKING MECHANISM INOPERABLE. NOTED VENT DOOR IN OPEN POSITION AND A 3/8" GAP AT THE TOP OF THE MAIN DOOR BETWEEN THE FRAME AND FUSELAGE, INDICATING AN IMPROPER PREVIOUS LOCKING ATTEMPT. SUCCESSFULLY GAINED ENTRY BY APPLYING INWARD PRESSURE AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR TO ALIGN IT FLUSH WITH THE FUSELAGE, ALLOWING THE REMAINING HANDLE SEGMENT TO ROTATE AND RELEASE THE LATCHES. REF TO AMM 52-14-00.REMOVED MAIN DOOR EXTERNAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLED CUSTOMER PROVIDED NEW EXTERNAL DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY NO FAULTS NOTED. OPS CHKD GOOD. IAW AMM 52-11-24