On March 17, 2000, a Beechcraft 1900D (registration N858CA) was involved in an aviation accident near Plattsburgh, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the upper anchor bracket for the airstair door. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A passenger fell from an airplane's airstair after the upper anchor bracket of the guide cable disconnected when he reached for it. A subsequent service bulletin addressed replacement of the brackets.
Incident Details
All passengers except one had disembarked from the airplane. As the last passenger approached the first step of the airstairs, he lost his balance and reached for the right side guide cable. The top anchor bracket of the guide cable became disconnected, and the passenger fell down the stairs, striking the pavement with his right side. The anchor bracket was manufactured from an aluminum casting.
Service Bulletin
Five months after the accident, a service bulletin was issued which addressed replacement of the upper anchor brackets for the airstair door forward and aft handrail cables. The replacement was required due to reports of separations of the upper anchor brackets. The bulletin stated, "Separation of these handrail cable upper anchor brackets can result in the airstair door becoming unstable in addition to loss of handrail support for crew, maintenance personnel or passengers when using the handrail." The new upper anchor bracket was an improved design machined from steel alloy.