This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
The DA40 Diamond Star’s rear door was closed and latched prior to takeoff with no door annunciation.
During the takeoff roll around the time of rotation, we received a door annunciation.
After rotation, I looked back at the door and noticed it had come slightly open. The safety latch did not appear to be holding the door closed.
I elected to make closed traffic and return for landing to shut the door.
I did not touch the door as the checklist advises against touching the rear door in flight.
At around 500-600 feet AGL, just prior to turning crosswind, the rear door came off of the airplane.
We continued the pattern and landed safely.
Primary Problem: Aircraft
ACN: 1909391
during my training in a 172 ,my CFI leaned across and opened my door so I could experience a door coming open in flight . unfortunately the top hinge gave way and then a tearing noise the door departed. It wasn’t that reassuring to sit there with only a lap/sash seat belt of the obvious quality of an early and much used 172. It’s a big hole there with much airflow.
Yeah – the pins used to align the two external hinges on the leading edges of the doors can get in poor condition and break. Over many years, we had a handful that did break. Shouldn’t be a problem in the air when the handle is in the locked position as there are multiple points that hold the door in place, but an item that should be checked in the pre-flight.
I once had a door pop open while receiving instruction it was the CFI’s door did a steep left turn and that took care of that.
Wow… lots to note here…
The manual explicitly stated to NOT touch an open door in-flight… likely because there is the possibility of being pulled-out with the door if firmly holding it… or falling thru the opening due to turbulence and/or flowing-air-pressure and/or the ‘startle-effect.’
This pilot was very fortunate that the door [apparently?] separated cleanly without structural contact. Anything that separates from the fuselage or inner-wing of an aircraft carries considerable energy. In this case… even at pattern airspeed… there is enough energy-mass-size to severely damage… or even sever… a horizontal and/or the-vertical stabilizer.
One time I had the oil-dip-stick door pop open on a C-150 during take-off. Thankfully it stood-up and vibrated… but did not separate. After landing/shut-down, I found that NOTHING was even damaged… although my undeserved ego and ‘pilot-swagger’ were very shaky for the next several flights.