Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly secure the crew hatch door before takeoff, which resulted in the door’s forward hinge assembly tearing from its fuselage mount point.
NTSB analysis
According to the operator, during initial climb, the door warning light illuminated, and the crew hatch door opened. The door's forward hinge assembly was then torn from its fuselage mount point along with adjacent aircraft skin, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the door safety latch, warning system, and door latching mechanism worked properly. The operator reported that it was possible to latch the door with the forward pin in its proper anchor point and with the aft pin outside the airframe with the warning light extinguished. The operator further reported that, after the accident, this was covered in aircrew training and the company standard operating procedures.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA20CA100 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 12, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Barnstable, Massachusetts
- Nearest airport
- Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polan (HYA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 402
- N-number
- N409BK
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1982
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.