AN LR25 FLC EXPERIENCES MAIN GEAR DOORS OPENING NEAR MAX CRUISE SPD AT FL250. ACFT PITCHES UP AS A RESULT OF PARTIAL OPENING OF DOORS.

Narrative

LEVEL AT FL250. CTR ASKED FOR BEST FORWARD SPD (350 KIAS). ACCELERATING THROUGH +/-330 KTS; ACFT SHOOK; PITCHED UP; AND MAIN GEAR DOORS UNLOCKED LIGHTS CAME ON. PWR REDUCED TO REDUCE AIRSPD; BUT PITCH UP CAUSED US TO +/-200 FT HIGH. CTR QUESTIONED OUR ALT. DO NOT THINK WE GOT MORE THAN 200 FT HIGH; BUT WE MAY HAVE. AS ACFT SLOWED; WE INFORMED CTR OF OUR PROB. THEY BROKE OUT ALL TFC THAT WAS FOLLOWING US ON THE STAR; WE CONTINUED TO SLOW TO APPROX 200 KIAS (GEAR EXTENDED/RETRACT SPD -- VLE). CYCLED GEAR DOWN -- 3 GREENS. WITH MAIN GEAR DOOR UNLOCKED; LIGHTS STILL ON; ELECTED TO RETRACT GEAR. STILL HAD 2 RED GEAR DOOR LIGHTS. CONTINUED TO DEST AT REDUCED SPD (HAD TO BURN FUEL TO MAKE LNDG WT. OTHERWISE; WE WOULD HAVE GONE TO CLOSEST ARPT). IN DSCNT; RED LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT CREW INTERVENTION. AT DEST; SELECTED GEAR DOWN; ALL SYS NORMAL. HAD MAINT INSPECT GEAR SYS. FOUND GEAR DOOR HINGES BENT (FROM AIRLOADS?) BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER PROBS. PLAN TO REPLACE GEAR DOOR SELECTOR VALVE TO PRECLUDE RECURRENCE EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROB.