SMA ACFT WAS FLOWN IN A POSSIBLE NON AIRWORTHY CONDITION ON A DELIVERY FLT. AN FAA RAMP CHK BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OF AIRWORTHINESS. ALL ACFT LOGBOOKS APPEARED TO BE IN PROPER CONDITION. A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WAS MADE AS THE COCKPIT DOOR FLEW OPEN IN FLT.
Synopsis
SMA ACFT WAS FLOWN IN A POSSIBLE NON AIRWORTHY CONDITION ON A DELIVERY FLT. AN FAA RAMP CHK BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OF AIRWORTHINESS. ALL ACFT LOGBOOKS APPEARED TO BE IN PROPER CONDITION. A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WAS MADE AS THE COCKPIT DOOR FLEW OPEN IN FLT.
Narrative
I WAS TO PICK UP A SMA IN WORCESTER; MA. THIS ACFT WAS BEING PURCHASED FOR USE AS A MULTI ENG TRAINER. THE ACFT WAS TO BE IN AIRWORTHY CONDITION AND READY TO FLY. I THOROUGHLY INSPECTED THE ACFT LOGBOOKS AND FOUND ALL MAINT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE INCLUDING ALL AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES. THE MOST RECENT AD INSPECTION BEING XX-YY-92. THE ACFT WAS TEST FLOWN WITH 1 OF THE CURRENT OWNERS. EVERYTHING SEEMED IN LINE AND THE TRANSACTION WAS COMPLETED. ENRTE OUT OF WORCESTER; WHILE AT 6500; THE CABIN DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENED. ANOTHER PLT WAS FLYING WITH ME. WE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT BRADLEY INTL. WE TAXIED TO FBO TO PARK AND INSPECT THE DOOR. A GENTLEMAN WITH THE FAA CONDUCTED A RAMP CHK OF OUR ACFT AND FOUND IT; IN HIS OPINION; UNAIRWORTHY; DUE TO RUDDER AND ELEVATOR DAMAGE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A WINDSTORM; ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. ON XX-YY-92; A LIST OF APPROX 10 ADþS WERE COMPLIED WITH. OF THOSE; 2 DEALT DIRECTLY WITH THE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY. WE WERE ASSURED BY THE THEN PRESENT OWNERS IT HAD BEEN INSPECTED AND WAS IN FINE CONDITION. I HAD NO INTENTION OF FLYING AN AIRPLANE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED UNAIRWORTHY BY THE FAA. HAD I BEEN AN A & P; I MAY HAVE BEEN MORE EDUCATED IN SEEING IT THE WAY THE FAA DID. I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE TO THE FAA FOR INADVERTENTLY FLYING AN AIRPLANE THEN FELT WAS UNAIRWORTHY. WE ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING A FURTHER DETERMINATION ON A FERRY PERMIT TO COMPLETE THE FLT. ONCE AGAIN; TO MY BEST ABILITIES; THE ACFT WAS IN AIRWORTHY CONDITION.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.