What happened
The aircraft was operating in normal cruise conditions at an altitude of 2,500 feet with no passengers on board when a loud hissing noise was detected around the main cabin door. The first officer entered the cabin to investigate and verified that the door handle and locking pins appeared secure. He alerted the captain, who directed him to assume control of the aircraft while he returned to inspect the door.
The captain reported that he likely bumped the door, causing it to open unexpectedly. He became entangled in the door cables but remained with the aircraft rather than ejecting or attempting to exit. The first officer declared an emergency and completed an uneventful landing. The captain sustained minor injuries during the incident.
The investigation
Post-flight examination of the cabin door revealed no mechanical defects or malfunctions. Beechcraft Company analysis indicated that aerodynamic forces would exert approximately 127 pounds of outward pull on the door at 200 knots true airspeed and 2,500 feet altitude. The aircraft was returned to service without repair.