Backcountry Pilot • Flying a 172 with door off?

Flying a 172 with door off?

A general forum for anything related to flying the backcountry. Please check first if your new topic fits better into a more specific forum before posting.
11 postsPage 1 of 1

Flying a 172 with door off?

Hey guys, anyone know the legalities of flying a 1965 C172 with one door off? Doesn't say I can, but doesn't say I can't either.
Thanks

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk
A1Skinner offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 5186
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:38 am
Location: Eaglesham
FindMeSpot URL: [url:1vzmrq4a]http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0az97SSJm2Ky58iEMJLqgaAQvVxMnGp6G[/url:1vzmrq4a]
Aircraft: Cessna P206A, AT402/502/602

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

Doesn't say you need landing gear either but it was certified with landing gear and doors.

If you're flying around in anything that differs from the certified configuration you need to have some paperwork explaining why it's okay.

If be real surprised if there wasn't an STC for a jump configuration
aftCG offline
User avatar
Posts: 360
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:55 pm
Location: Tacoma
Aircraft: Kitfox series 5

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

23. AIRCRAFT OPERATING AND AIRWORTHINESS REQUIREMENTS.
a. Procedure. Owners or operators of aircraft listed in Appendix 2, who
are interested in obtaining authorization and operating limitations for these
aircraft to be flown with the door open or removed, should forward a written
request to the FSDO having jurisdiction over the area in which these
operations are to be conducted. The request should contain the following
information:
(1) Name and address of the registered owner(s) of the aircraft.
(2) Make, model, serial, and registration numbers of the aircraft.
(3) Place where the aircraft is normally based.
(4) Reason the aircraft is to be operated with a door open or
removed.

APPENDIX-2.AIRCRAFT THAT MAY BE OPERATED WITH ONE CABIN DOOR REMOVED
Aeronca 05B
Aeronca 15AC STC SA4-1593
Beech 017s STC SA603SO
Beech AT-11 STC SA4WE
Beech 18 Series STC SA69CE
Beech C-45 and TC-45 Series
STC SA69CE
Beech 65-90 x
Beech 650A90 x
Beech 650B90 x
Beech 65X90 x
Beech 650E90 x
Beech Model 100 (all) x
Beech Model A100 (all) x
Beech Model BlOO (all)
Beech Model 200 x
Beech Model 200C (all) x
Beech Model 200T (all) x
Beech Model 200CT x
Beech Model 8200 x
Beech Model B200C x
Beech Model B200T x
Beech Model B200CT x
Beech Model 99 x
Beech Model 99A x
Beech Model A99A x
Beech Model B99 x
Beech Model C99 x
Beech Model A65 x
Beech Model A65-8200 x
Beech Model A65-80 x
Beech Model A65-70 x
Beech Model A65-B80 x
Beech Model A36 x
Beech Model A36TC *
Beech Model B36TC x
Beech Model 58/58A *
Centaur 101
Cessna 120 Series
Cessna 140 Series
Cessna 150 Series
Cessna 170 Series
Cessna 172 Series
Cessna 775 Series STC SA49CE
Cessna 177 STC SA466SO
Cessna 180 Series STC SA168SW
Cessna 182 Series STC SA40CE
Cessna 185 Series STC SA33SO
*Cessna 190 Series STC SAZZOWE
Cessna 195 Series STC SA1966SW
Cessna 206 Series STC SA1255WE
(with Cessna accessory kit
, AK 206-l installed)
Cessna 207 Series *
Cessna 208 Series _
Cessna 210 STC SAl99WE
Cessna (Ector) 305A STC SA353SW
Cessna 337A STC SAlSOSO
Cessna 402C STCSA1525NM
Champion (Aeronca) 7 Series
STC SA33CE
Curtis Wright (Trawl Air)
STC SA209WE S-6000B
De Havilland DHC-6-300 STC SA132RM
Douglas DC-3 (maximum airspeed cabin
passenger door removed 170
knots)
Fairchild 24 Series (R/H door)
He’lio 250
Helio 295
Helio 391 '
Helio 395
Howard DGA-15 Series .
Larson (Luscombe) 8 Series (R/H
door-maximum airspeed 100 MPH)
Lockheed Model 12A
Lockheed 18-56 STC SA892SO
Lockheed 402-2 (R/H rear door)
Macchi AL 60 (R/H rear door)
Maule M4, M-4-210 STC SA258CE
Noorduyn UC-64 Series (rear door)
Piper PA-12 Series *
Piper PA-78 Series *
Piper PA-20 Series *
Piper PA-22 Series *
Piper PA-28 140-160-180-235 *
Piper PA-32 Series *
Piper PA-32R Series *
Piper PA-34 Series *
Stinson SR-7B (R/H door)
Stinson V-77
Taylorcraft BC 12-D
Temco (Luscombe) 1lA (R/H door)
Universal (Stinson) 108 Series
X= Procedures contained in aircraft flight manual supplement.
*= Procedures contained in aircraft ljilot operating handbook.
dogpilot offline
Took ball and went home
Posts: 902
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:20 pm
Aircraft: Cessna 206H Amphib, Caravan 675 Amphib

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

A way better answer than mine, and I got to learn how I can remove my own door if needed!
aftCG offline
User avatar
Posts: 360
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:55 pm
Location: Tacoma
Aircraft: Kitfox series 5

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

dogpilot wrote:23. AIRCRAFT OPERATING AND AIRWORTHINESS REQUIREMENTS.
a. Procedure. Owners or operators of aircraft listed in Appendix 2, who
are interested in obtaining authorization and operating limitations for these
aircraft to be flown with the door open or removed, should forward a written
request to the FSDO having jurisdiction over the area in which these
operations are to be conducted. The request should contain the following
information:
(1) Name and address of the registered owner(s) of the aircraft.
(2) Make, model, serial, and registration numbers of the aircraft.
(3) Place where the aircraft is normally based.
(4) Reason the aircraft is to be operated with a door open or
removed.

APPENDIX-2.AIRCRAFT THAT MAY BE OPERATED WITH ONE CABIN DOOR REMOVED
Aeronca 05B
Aeronca 15AC STC SA4-1593
Beech 017s STC SA603SO
Beech AT-11 STC SA4WE
Beech 18 Series STC SA69CE
Beech C-45 and TC-45 Series
STC SA69CE
Beech 65-90 x
Beech 650A90 x
Beech 650B90 x
Beech 65X90 x
Beech 650E90 x
Beech Model 100 (all) x
Beech Model A100 (all) x
Beech Model BlOO (all)
Beech Model 200 x
Beech Model 200C (all) x
Beech Model 200T (all) x
Beech Model 200CT x
Beech Model 8200 x
Beech Model B200C x
Beech Model B200T x
Beech Model B200CT x
Beech Model 99 x
Beech Model 99A x
Beech Model A99A x
Beech Model B99 x
Beech Model C99 x
Beech Model A65 x
Beech Model A65-8200 x
Beech Model A65-80 x
Beech Model A65-70 x
Beech Model A65-B80 x
Beech Model A36 x
Beech Model A36TC *
Beech Model B36TC x
Beech Model 58/58A *
Centaur 101
Cessna 120 Series
Cessna 140 Series
Cessna 150 Series
Cessna 170 Series
Cessna 172 Series
Cessna 775 Series STC SA49CE
Cessna 177 STC SA466SO
Cessna 180 Series STC SA168SW
Cessna 182 Series STC SA40CE
Cessna 185 Series STC SA33SO
*Cessna 190 Series STC SAZZOWE
Cessna 195 Series STC SA1966SW
Cessna 206 Series STC SA1255WE
(with Cessna accessory kit
, AK 206-l installed)
Cessna 207 Series *
Cessna 208 Series _
Cessna 210 STC SAl99WE
Cessna (Ector) 305A STC SA353SW
Cessna 337A STC SAlSOSO
Cessna 402C STCSA1525NM
Champion (Aeronca) 7 Series
STC SA33CE
Curtis Wright (Trawl Air)
STC SA209WE S-6000B
De Havilland DHC-6-300 STC SA132RM
Douglas DC-3 (maximum airspeed cabin
passenger door removed 170
knots)
Fairchild 24 Series (R/H door)
Heâ€[TRADE MARK SIGN]lio 250
Helio 295
Helio 391 '
Helio 395
Howard DGA-15 Series .
Larson (Luscombe) 8 Series (R/H
door-maximum airspeed 100 MPH)
Lockheed Model 12A
Lockheed 18-56 STC SA892SO
Lockheed 402-2 (R/H rear door)
Macchi AL 60 (R/H rear door)
Maule M4, M-4-210 STC SA258CE
Noorduyn UC-64 Series (rear door)
Piper PA-12 Series *
Piper PA-78 Series *
Piper PA-20 Series *
Piper PA-22 Series *
Piper PA-28 140-160-180-235 *
Piper PA-32 Series *
Piper PA-32R Series *
Piper PA-34 Series *
Stinson SR-7B (R/H door)
Stinson V-77
Taylorcraft BC 12-D
Temco (Luscombe) 1lA (R/H door)
Universal (Stinson) 108 Series
X= Procedures contained in aircraft flight manual supplement.
*= Procedures contained in aircraft ljilot operating handbook.

Thanks Dog pilot. So if there is no STC # beside it does it mean I don't need one? Or that they just didn't have it at the moment?

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk
A1Skinner offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 5186
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:38 am
Location: Eaglesham
FindMeSpot URL: [url:1vzmrq4a]http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0az97SSJm2Ky58iEMJLqgaAQvVxMnGp6G[/url:1vzmrq4a]
Aircraft: Cessna P206A, AT402/502/602

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

If there is no STC, then there is a provision in the aircraft instructions, like maintenance or manual that the manufacturer developed. So you simply make the application to your FISDO office using the referenced CFR.
dogpilot offline
Took ball and went home
Posts: 902
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:20 pm
Aircraft: Cessna 206H Amphib, Caravan 675 Amphib

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

Yes, you can purchase a STC from the American parachuting Association, I can't remember what it cost when I looked into it but I decided to do one with my local FISDO because I am an A&P and I wanted one for photography not parachute jumping. It was not terribly difficult but it involved lots of research with my FISDO, you might get lucky with yours but basically it was a "simple" field approval. Mine involved a supplement to the flight manual that gives restrictions on airspeed bank and yaw when operating with the door(s) off. I also needed to stipulate a secondary restraint system in addition to seat-belts because I was not having the passengers and pilot wearing parachutes. I would say go ahead and contact your FISDO they might already have an approved one for your aircraft but if they don't you might not want to bother unless you have a really good reason.
BlackWater offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed May 14, 2014 2:37 pm
Location: Santa Rosa
Aircraft: C 170a
Husky A-1B (now on floats)

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

For starters, take a look at the list of STC's available for your model of aircraft. These can be viewed at:

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSTC.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet

I encourage you to do this because the earlier provided list of STC info is not accurate for my model of aircraft (C175). Moreover, there are several versions of STC's for door removal (again, at least for my plane). One STC is simply for door removal and only requires, as mentioned, no lose objects and no speed in excess of 125. Other STC's are specific to skydiving and are more onerous to comply with, such as restraint requirements for all occupants and/or control and seat removal. Go to the source and see what's available for your make of aircraft. Alternatively, as mentioned, there is always the possibility of a field approval.
Neb12 offline
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2013 12:10 pm
Location: Nebraska

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

I should've mentioned that I'm in Canada, so no field approvals. I just needed to do a quick flight with it off as a favor for a guy. Probably not worth the effort.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk
A1Skinner offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 5186
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:38 am
Location: Eaglesham
FindMeSpot URL: [url:1vzmrq4a]http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0az97SSJm2Ky58iEMJLqgaAQvVxMnGp6G[/url:1vzmrq4a]
Aircraft: Cessna P206A, AT402/502/602

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

I have a placard on the door of my 172A (1960) that stipulates it is legal to fly with the door removed. It is a small aluminum plate and I need to go to two today, will try and remember to get a picture of it if you want. I will have to look through my paperwork for the plane to see if there is anything in there. I have never flown the plane with the door off. I may have to try it and see how much dirt blows out. :)
WWhunter offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 2036
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:54 pm
Location: Minnesota
Aircraft: RANS S-7
Murphy Rebel
VANS RV-8

Re: Flying a 172 with door off?

First thing I did when I got my 150 was grind and punch out the passenger door hinge pins and replace with quick pins. Flew it a few times door off for photo shoots, or maybe hauling something big, with all the obvious considerations: loose objects, reduced performance, yada, yada.

Canada? Just do it. You can arm yourself with Dogpilot's convenient information confirming it can/has been done and other jurisdictions where approval is required will grant it.
Karmutzen offline
User avatar
Posts: 711
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:47 pm
Location: Great Bear Rainforest
'74 7GCBC, 26" ABW, Aera 660 feeding G5 and FC-10 FF.

DISPLAY OPTIONS

11 postsPage 1 of 1

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

Latest Features

Latest Knowledge Base