NTSB Factual Report

On August 20, 2001, at 1938 central daylight time, a Beech F33C, single-engine airplane, N133DA, impacted the ground while maneuvering during the final approach for landing at the Sugarland Municipal Hull/Field, Sugarland, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the West Houston Aero Club, Inc., dba Sugarland Flying Club of Houston, Texas, under Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and the passenger received serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross-country flight to Galveston, Texas, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated at 1935.

According to air traffic control transcripts, at 1936:15, during the takeoff/initial climb from runway 17, the pilot reported that the cockpit door had popped open and that he wanted to return for landing. The controller cleared the pilot to land the airplane on runway 17. The controller advised the pilot that another airplane about a mile northeast would extend on the downwind. At 1936:43, the pilot told the controller that "we'll get it in there tight, get the door sealed, turn around and come back." At 1937:11, the pilot reported "turnin[g] in now."

The air traffic controller observed the airplane enter a left downwind for runway 17 approximately 600 feet agl. The controller observed that during the turn from base to final approach, the airplane overshot the runway centerline, and subsequently, he observed the airplane west of the runway edge and south of the approach end. The airplane "appeared to lose forward speed" during a left turn back toward the runway. The airplane impacted the ground in the runway safety area to the west of runway 17.

Local authorities and the FAA inspector, who responded to the site, located the airplane approximately 150 feet west of runway 17 in the runway safety area. The engine was found dislodged from the engine mounts and the firewall was damaged. The propeller spinner was found crushed, one of the propeller blades was found separated from the propeller hub, and all the propeller blades exhibited "S" bending and twisting. The main landing gear were crushed upward into the wing area. Flight control continuity was confirmed.

On August 23, 2001, at Lancaster, Texas, the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge and the airplane representative examined the door. Continuity for the operating mechanism within the door was confirmed. The door mechanism operated using the inner and outer handles, and the emergency release latches. The door had two pieces of metal riveted to the lower forward corner of the door. Deformation at the door hinges and to the door were consistent with impact damage.

The Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin, No. 2190, placard: WARNING VERIFY DOOR IS PROPERLY LATCHED BEFORE TAKEOFF, was found installed in the aircraft. Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-14-15 requires a check of the cabin side door handle and the utility door handle from the interior of the airplane for proper locking (rotating the handle clockwise without depressing the lock release button). A review of the maintenance records revealed that Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-14-15 per Service Bulletin 2693 was performed on December 1, 2000, during the last annual inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane during the base/final approach for landing which resulted in a collision with terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention to an open cockpit door.