What happened
On August 15, 2014, a Cessna 182 departed from Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (EPGD). Shortly after takeoff, the pilot heard unusual knocking sounds coming from the exterior of the aircraft. Seeking to identify the source of the noise, the pilot requested permission from Air Traffic Control to return to the airport.
Upon landing and taxiing to the parking apron, the pilot discovered that a piece of a travel bag strap had become caught in the aircraft door. Following the discovery, the pilot performed an external inspection of the aircraft and determined that no damage had occurred. After confirming the aircraft's condition, the pilot requested permission to taxi and take off again.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events following the report of external noise and the subsequent inspection of the aircraft's exterior and door mechanism.