Pilot killed by explosive cabin depressurization at Kittilä Airport

Casualties unknown • FI

A Gulfstream G150 experienced an explosive door opening due to ground pressurization, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot.

What happened

On January 4, 2018, a Gulfstream G150 business jet, registration OE-GKA, was at Kittilä Airport preparing for a repositioning flight to Yekaterinburg, Russia. The aircraft had arrived two days prior, and the crew was performing pre-flight preparations in extremely cold conditions.

During the preparations, the captain started the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide electrical power and heat to the cabin. While the captain briefly stepped outside to assist the first officer with snow removal, a cabin attendant inside the aircraft noticed unusual pressure in their ears and chest. The attendant attempted to alert the crew by knocking on the cockpit window.

When the captain returned and opened the aircraft door, the significant pressure differential between the pressurized cabin and the outside atmosphere caused the door to open with explosive force. The force of the opening struck the captain, knocking him to the ground, and the resulting pressure wave also knocked the first officer backward. The captain sustained fatal injuries at the scene. The cabin attendant also suffered a concussion and bruising. \n## The investigation

The investigation examined the sequence of events, the aircraft's systems, and the environmental conditions. Investigators analyzed the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which were processed in Germany. The investigation focused on why the cabin had become pressurized while the aircraft was on the ground and why the door opened with such violence.

Findings

  • The cabin had become pressurized while the aircraft was parked on the ground because the APU was running and the outflow valve was not properly configured.
  • The crew had followed procedures to expedite heating by closing the door, but failed to ensure the outflow valve was fully open.
  • The cabin pressurized due to the APU providing heated air to the cabin while the door was closed and the outflow valve was not verified as open.
  • The pressure differential created a significant safety hazard, leading to the explosive opening of the door upon manual operation.

Probable cause

The fatal accident was caused by the unintended pressurization of the cabin while the aircraft was on the ground, which created a dangerous pressure differential. This was due to the crew's failure to verify that the outflow valve was fully open before closing the door to expedite cabin heating using the APU.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2018-01-04 aircraft accident near FI?

A Gulfstream G150 experienced an explosive door opening due to ground pressurization, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2018-01-04 involved a aircraft, at FI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The fatal accident was caused by the unintended pressurization of the cabin while the aircraft was on the ground, which created a dangerous pressure differential. This was due to the crew's failure to verify that the outflow valve was fully open before closing the door to expedite cabin heating using the APU.

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