British BAE3201 N496UE

Summary

On 23 March 1993 at about 11:50 local time, a British BAE3201 registered N496UE, operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines, was involved in an incident near Rochester, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 1993 at 11:50

Classification

Incident

Location

Rochester, New York, United States

Coordinates

43.2293, -77.6601

Aircraft

British BAE3201

Registration

N496UE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Atlantic Coast Airlines

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Buffalo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93IA057

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE MAIN CABIN DOOR TO BE ADEQUATELY SECURED FOR FLIGHT FOR AN UNKNOWN REAS0N.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WAS CLOSED BY RAMP PERSONNEL, HE HAD A DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ON THE CAP PANEL. HE REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT FOR FOUR LEGS THE PREVIOUS DAY AND A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED ON THREE OF THOSE LEGS, SO HE PULLED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND RESET IT AFTER 10 SECONDS. THE DOOR LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND THE PILOTS PROCEEDED TO TAKEOFF. DURING THE CLIMB, WHILE PASSING THROUGH 4000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DECOMPRESSION. THE PILOTS NOTED THAT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WAS AJAR, BUT FOR SAFETY REASONS, THEY DID NOT GO TO INSPECT THE DOOR. THE PILOTS SLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO 130 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, AND AFTER LANDING, THEY NOTED THE DOOR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. SEARCH EFFORTS WERE MADE AND THE DOOR WAS LOCATED IN A FIELD ALONG THE PATH OF THE FLIGHT. THE DOOR WAS FLOWN TO SCOTLAND FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION AT JETSTREAM AIRCRAFT LIMITED; HOWEVER, THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.