What happened
On August 21, 2015, a student pilot was conducting a solo flight in a Socata TB-9 Tampico between the turning points of Żabno and EPRZZ. While traversing the area near Dąbrowa Tarnowska, the left cabin door accidentally and partially opened during flight. After an unsuccessful attempt to close the door while airborne, the pilot decided to divert the aircraft to the nearest alternate aerodrome, EPML.
During the flight to the diversion airport, the pilot managed to hold the door in place by grasping the upper handle. The aircraft subsequently landed at EPML in a standard configuration without further complications. Following the landing, a ground inspection of the aircraft revealed no damage and confirmed that the door locking mechanism was functioning correctly. Based on these findings, the flight was continued to the home base at EPRJ.
The investigation
The investigation focused on determining how the door latch was released during the solo flight. Investigators examined the cockpit environment and the actions of the pilot prior to the incident.
Findings
- The probable cause of the door unlocking was that the locking lever was accidentally dislodged by the pilot's knee or kneeboard while the pilot was reaching for a bag located in the rear of the aircraft.
Safety action
- The incident was reviewed with the crew and students at the P.Rz. Flight Training Center.
- Instructors were advised to emphasize proper cockpit organization during training flights, specifically regarding the accessibility of necessary items to prevent distractions or accidental movements during flight.