What happened
On 3 July 2011, a Beagle B121 Series 1 Pup, registration G-AXPB, was conducting a private flight near North Weald Airfield in Essex. Shortly after the aircraft departed from the airfield, the passenger door became unlatched and opened while in flight. This event disrupted the aircraft's aerodynamics, making it impossible for the pilot to maintain the necessary altitude.
Due to the loss of height, the pilot was forced to perform an immediate landing. The aircraft completed a forced landing at the site, resulting in one minor injury to the pilot. The impact caused damage to the nose landing gear and resulted in a bent propeller.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events following the takeoff and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The inquiry focused on the circumstances that allowed the door to open during the climb phase of the flight.