Ortiz G/Saint J RV-10 N416EC

Summary

On 19 September 2007 at about 12:45 local time, a Ortiz G/Saint J RV-10 registered N416EC was involved in an accident near Hiram, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 September 2007 at 12:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hiram, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cobb County Airport (RYY)

Coordinates

33.8708, -84.7264

Aircraft

Ortiz G/Saint J RV-10

Registration

N416EC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Dothan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07LA237

Nobody was injured.

Separation of the passenger cabin door during cruise flight for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot of an amateur-built RV-10 performed his preflight inspection, and confirmed that the doors were in the locked position by observing the lock indicator lights on the instrument panel, as well as the lock annunciators on the airplane’s electronic flight information system. During cruise flight, at an altitude of 4,500 feet mean sea level, and an estimated cruise speed of 145 knots, he noticed the right door was vibrating. He reached over to grip the door handle and the door began to open upwards. Shortly thereafter the door opened completely, separated from the airframe, and struck the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport. A search for the separated door was unsuccessful, and postaccident examination of the airplane was inconclusive. As part of the investigation, five RV-10 airplanes fitted with the same door locking mechanism were surveyed. Varying degrees of door lock pin extension lengths were observed between airplanes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.