Summary
The left side cabin door opened in flight, shortly after take-off. The pilot reduced power and attempted to close the door. When he found he was unable to close the door against the aerodynamic forces, he transmitted a "MAYDAY" call, advising of his intention to force land the aircraft. The aircraft was landed in a paddock with a soft surface, resulting in the nose landing gear being torn off.
A post flight inspection found no defects with the door latches. It is likely that the pilot failed to latch the cabin door properly before flight.
Occurrence summary
| Investigation number | 199500883 |
|---|---|
| Occurrence date | 27/03/1995 |
| Location | 2 km west of Tamworth |
| State | New South Wales |
| Report release date | 05/06/1996 |
| Report status | Final |
| Investigation type | Occurrence Investigation |
| Investigation status | Completed |
| Mode of transport | Aviation |
| Aviation occurrence category | Forced/precautionary landing |
| Occurrence class | Accident |
Aircraft details
| Manufacturer | SOCATA-Groupe Aerospatiale |
|---|---|
| Model | TB-10 |
| Registration | VH-YTQ |
| Sector | Piston |
| Operation type | Flying Training |
| Departure point | Tamworth NSW |
| Destination | Tamworth NSW |
| Damage | Substantial |