What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2021-06-23 involved a Europa , registration G-FLOR , at Brinkworth, Wiltshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The left cockpit door detached in flight because the rear tapered shoot bolt had failed to engage with its guide, allowing the door to open under aerodynamic loads.

Cockpit door detachment on Europa aircraft during flight

A Europa aircraft experienced the sudden detachment of its left cockpit door while in flight near Cotswold Airport, leading to minor damage to the tailplane.

What happened

On 23 June 2021, a Europa aircraft, registration G-FLOR, was conducting a private flight from Cotswold Airport with one pilot and one passenger. While cruising at approximately 2,500 ft amsl and a speed of 100 kt, the left cockpit door suddenly detached from the airframe without warning. The pilot maintained control of the aircraft and, after confirming normal flight characteristics, returned to Cotslood Airport to land safely. There were no injuries to the occupants. A subsequent inspection of the aircraft revealed that the left tailplane had sustained minor damage to its upper surface and leading edge, consistent with being struck by the departing door.

The investigation

The investigation examined the door's locking mechanism and the physical state of the hinges. The door utilized a gull-wing design with tapered shoot bolts to secure it. Investigators found that the forward hinge of the left door had failed due to overload, while the rear hinge was entirely missing. Notably, the AN970-3 washers were absent from the remaining hinges. Superficial damage to the paintwork near the door guides suggested that the shoot bolt may have been resting against the fuselage skin rather than being properly seated in its guide. The investigation also noted that the pilot had performed pre-flight checks, including attempting to verify the rear latching of the left door, though the passenger was unable to reach the area to assist.

Findings

The left door's rear tapered shoot bolt was not engaged in its guide prior to takeoff.
The detachment was caused by aerodynamic loads resulting from the door being improperly latched.
The pilot's ability to verify the rear latch of the left door was hindered by the cockpit's configuration and physical reach.
The absence of required washers on the hinges may have contributed to the failure of the rear hinge during the event.
This incident was one of several involving the inadvertent opening of cockpit doors on Europa aircraft in the UK.

Safety action

On 1 November 2021, the LAA issued a mandatory standard modification (SM 15833) for all Europa aircraft. This modification includes an aerodynamic stop to prevent the latch from being moved to the closed position if the rear pin is not properly engaged, along with brightly coloured warning marks on the handles to assist pilots in verifying the door is fully secured.