What happened
On November 29, 2004, at approximately 03:25 UTC, an L 410 UVP-E, registration OK-UDS, operated by VERA Air Transport s.r.o., departed from runway 31 at Prague Ruzyně Airport (LKPR). Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew observed that the left door of the forward cargo compartment had opened.
In response to the situation, the pilot immediately interrupted the flight and returned to LKPR. The aircraft landed safely without further incident. There were no injuries to the crew or passengers.
While there were no injuries, the aircraft sustained damage. The opening of the door caused the door hinge and strut to become damaged. Specifically, the door's retaining strut detached, which subsequently struck and damaged the de-icing segment of blade number 5 on the left engine's V-510 propeller.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that both pilots held valid licenses and medical certifications appropriate for the flight. The aircraft was maintained according to the manufacturer's approved procedures and was considered airworthy at the time of the event. Meteorological conditions were CAVOK with a wind of 240 degrees at 4-5 m/s, and all radio and navigational aids were functioning normally. The investigation concluded that neither the airport conditions nor the weather contributed to the incident.