What happened
On the night of July 22, 2014, at approximately 00:30 LT, an Embraer EMB 110P1, registration CX-MAS, was performing a takeoff roll on runway 01 at Carrasco International Airport. The aircraft, operated by Aeromás, was conducting a cargo flight with a crew of three, including an instructor and two pilots in training.
During the takeoff roll, the main forward door opened unexpectedly, triggering the cockpit alarm. As the aircraft continued down the runway, an unsecured briefcase slid out of the open door and struck the propeller of the left engine. The crew immediately aborted the takeoff, feathered the propeller, and shut down the left engine as a precaution. Upon taxiing back toward the runway intersection, the crew observed debris on the runway, which they identified as the remains of the briefcase and its contents. There were no injuries to the crew, and no fire occurred, though the aircraft's forward door and left propeller sustained damage.
The investigation
The CIAIA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the door's locking mechanism, and the crew's operational procedures. Investigators disassembled the forward door to inspect the locking system and found no mechanical defects or malfunctions in the locking pins or the latching mechanism. It was noted, however, that the cockpit door-open warning light tended to extinguish slightly before the door was fully locked and secured.
Technical inspections of the engine and propeller were conducted, and the investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly certified for cargo operations and maintained according to manufacturer standards. The investigation also reviewed the crew's training status and the operational manuals regarding door security and cabin item stowage.