What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2003-08-17 involved a Europa,, registration G-IGII, at 10 miles north of Nottingham Airport, Nottinghamshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The rear latch of the door was likely not fully engaged in its socket, allowing the door to flex under aerodynamic loads and eventually disengage the forward latch, causing the door to open in flight.

In-flight door failure on Europa aircraft

A pilot conducting an air test in a Europa aircraft experienced a sudden cockpit depressurization and door failure while maneuvering near Nottingham.

What happened

On 17 August 2003, a pilot was performing an air test in a Europa, registration G-IGII, to establish performance data for the aircraft. The flight, which was a private operation, proceeded normally through takeoff and a climb to 3,000 feet. While the pilot was performing 360-degree banked turns at speeds below the published maneuvering speed, a loud bang occurred followed by a sudden rush of air into the cockpit.

The pilot discovered that the port door had opened, resulting in the loss of much of the door's transparency and bent door hinges. Despite the increased drag and the need to manage the aircraft's altitude, the pilot successfully closed the door and declared a distress call to Nottingham Airport. The aircraft subsequently completed a normal visual approach and landed safely at Runway 09 with no injuries to the crew.

The investigation

The investigation involved examining the aircraft, interviewing the pilot, and consulting with the kit manufacturer's technical manager. Investigators looked into the mechanics of the door closure and the integrity of the door's transparency.

Regarding the door's closure, it was noted that the Europa door uses a gas-strut to assist with the upward-opening mechanism. The investigation explored whether the door had twisted during closure, a known issue where the forward latch engages but the rear latch fails to seat properly in its socket. Additionally, the investigation examined the adhesive used to bond the transparency to the door frame, as the door's transparency is applied by the builder rather than the manufacturer.

Findings

The investigation established that the rear latch of the door had likely failed to engage correctly in its socket.
It was suggested that air may have been escaping through a gap at the rear of the door, creating a pressure difference that caused the fuel selector access flap to lift.
This airflow likely caused the door to flex, eventually leading to the disengagement of the forward latch and the subsequent sudden opening of the door.
The interior trim on the door was found to obstruct a clear view of the latches, making it difficult for the pilot to verify they were fully engaged.
While the manufacturer's examination showed the remaining transparency was securely bonded, the investigation noted concerns regarding the quality of the adhesive application used by the builder.