What happened
On 17 June 2010, an Aerospatiale SA365N Dauphin, registration G-HEMS, was performing a commercial passenger flight en-route to Durham Tees Valley Airport. The aircraft had recently completed a mission delivering a patient to a hospital in Middlesbrough. Approximately three minutes after takeoff, while at an altitude of 700 feet, a loud noise occurred within the cabin. The paramedic on board noted that the right rear cabin quarter-door had opened, causing several items to fall from the aircraft. The pilot reduced the airspeed to 70 knots and notified air traffic control. The flight proceeded to the destination without further complications.
Following the incident, it was discovered that a plastic A4 stationery folder had fallen from the helicopter and struck a person on the ground, causing them to lose consciousness. The individual required assistance from paramedics.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's door and locking mechanisms. The engineering inspection revealed minor damage and deformation to the door, consistent with an in-flight opening, though the locks themselves remained functional. The inspection noted that the quarter-door pins were difficult to verify from the cabin interior when a stretcher is installed, and they were not visible from the exterior.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the crew's pre-takeoff procedures. During the checks, the pilot had challenged the crew regarding the door status, and the crew responded that all components were secure. The investigation also noted that the central warning panel failed to display any captions indicating an unlocked door.