Doors Have Come Open In Flight

The FAA has issued an SAIB for Liberty Aerospace, Inc. Model XL-2 airplanes, for an issue concerning the passenger/crew doors.

File Photo

There have been six occurrences of a door opening in-flight on Liberty XL-2 airplanes. In all six cases, the pilot has been able to land the airplane safely and there is evidence the doors were not properly latched before takeoff. The two passenger/crew entrance doors on the XL-2 are gull wing type doors with hinges on the top edge of the doors. If a door is not properly closed and latched prior to flight, the airflow during flight could cause the door to open. The open door could separate from the airplane and could cause damage to the airplane empennage or injure someone on the ground.

Liberty Aerospace has issued Service Bulletin SB-09-003, dated December 15, 2009, to provide a new rear tapered door pin for each door and to publish airplane flight manual (AFM) revisions. The new rear tapered door pin will allow for easier latching of the door. The AFM revisions include additional notes and warnings in the checklists for the pilot to check the engagement of both the front and rear door pins in their receptacles before takeoff.

The FAA says owners and maintenance personnel should have the new rear door pin installed on their Model XL-2 airplane in accordance with Liberty Aerospace Service Bulletin SB-09-003, dated December 15, 2009, with the airplane's next scheduled maintenance. They also recommend that an updated AFM be onboard the airplane as soon as possible.  At this time, the FAA says this condition does not warrant an AD.

FMI: www.libertyaircraft.com, www.faa.gov