Primary finding
Probable cause
Excessive wear of the left brake liners which reduced brake effectiveness resulting in a runway excursion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The cabin entry door popped open during the takeoff roll. The pilot immediately rejected the takeoff; however, the airplane did not slow down. As the pilot attempted to exit onto a taxiway at the end of the runway, the airplane departed the pavement and came to rest in a ditch causing substantial damage to the forward fuselage, and damage to nose gear and propellers. During a postaccident inspection, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the left main landing gear brake disc was discolored consistent with overheating. The brake liners were worn at or beyond service limits. The right main landing gear brake disc and liners remained within service limits; although, the disc was warped. No other anomalies were observed.