Introduction
An airline transport pilot was operating a ferry flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, transporting the airplane to an airport for painting. During the cruise phase of flight, the upper portion of the aft cargo door detached from the aircraft.
Incident Sequence
The separated door part struck the horizontal stabilator, causing substantial damage. The pilot reported that he believed the cargo door was latched securely before departure. Despite the in-flight separation, the flight continued to its intended destination and landed without further incident.
Examination
Following the flight, an FAA inspector examined the fuselage-mounted upper door latch. The inspection revealed that the upper portion of the latch striker plate was missing, and the door locking mechanism was not properly aligned with the latch. The inspector noted that the missing portion of the latching plate appeared to have been absent for an extended period prior to the event and should have been detected during routine maintenance inspections. The separated upper portion of the door was not recovered.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilator as a result of the impact from the detached door component. No other damage was reported.
Notes
- The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate.
- The flight was conducted under Part 91 (general operating and flight rules).
- The purpose of the flight was to reposition the aircraft for painting.