Event Summary
On a scheduled passenger flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, with stops in Honolulu and Auckland, the aircraft departed Honolulu uneventfully. While climbing from flight level 220 to flight level 230, the crew heard a thump followed by an explosion. The aircraft experienced an explosive decompression, and engines number 3 and 4 were shut down due to foreign object damage. The flight returned to Honolulu, where passengers were evacuated.
Damage and Casualties
Post-incident inspection revealed that the forward lower lobe cargo door had separated in flight. This departure caused extensive damage to the fuselage and cabin area adjacent to the door. Nine passengers were ejected from the aircraft and lost at sea.
Investigation
The investigation centered on the design and certification of the cargo door, which allowed it to be improperly latched. Additionally, the investigation examined the operation and maintenance procedures to ensure the airworthiness of the door and its latching mechanism. The full investigation report is published as NTSB Aviation Accident Report AAR-92/02. Additional related information is contained in NTSB report AAR-90/01.