TM 1-1510-223-10
2-9. ENTRANCE AND EXIT PROVISIONS.
NOTE
Two keys are provided in the loose tools and equipment
bag. Both keys will fit the locks on the cabin door,
emergency hatch, tailcone access door, and the right
and left nose avionics compartment doors.
a.
Cabin Door.
Structural damage may occur if more than one person is
present on the airstair cabin door at one time. The door
is weight limited to 300 pounds.
An airstair door (fig. 2-9), hinged at the bottom,
provides a stairway for normal and emergency entrance
and exit. Two of the steps fold flat against the door in
the closed position. A step folds down over the door sill
when the door opens to provide a platform (step) for
door seal protection. A plastic-encased cable provides a
handhold and support for the door in the open position
and a convenience for closing the door from inside. A
hydraulic damper permits the door to lower gradually
during opening. A rubber seal around the door, seals
the pressure vessel while the aircraft is in flight. The
door locking mechanism is operated by either of the two
mechanically interconnected handles, one inside and
the other outside the door. When either handle is
rotated, three rotating cam-type latches on either side of
the door capture posts mounted on the cargo door. In
the closed position, the door becomes an integral part of
the cargo door. A button adjacent to the door handle
must be depressed before the handle can be rotated to
open the door. A bellows behind the button is inflated
when the air-craft is pressurized to prevent accidental
unlatching and/or opening of the door. A placard
adjacent to the window instructs the operator that the
safety lock arm is in position around the bellows shaft
which indicates a properly locked door. Pushing the red
button adjacent to the window will illuminate the inside
door mechanism. A CABIN DOOR annunciator on the
caution/ advisory panel will illuminate if the door is not
closed and all latches fully locked. The cabin door
opening is 21.5 inches wide by 50.0 inches high.
b.
Cargo Door. A swing-up door (fig. 2-9),
hinged at the top, provides access for loading cargo or
bulky items. The cargo door opening is 52.0 inches
wide by 52.0 inches high. After initial opening force is
applied, gas springs will completely open the cargo door
automatically. The door is counterbalanced and will
remain in the open position. A door support rod is used
to hold the door in the open position, and to aid in
overcoming the pressure of the gas spring assemblies
when closing the door. Once closed, the gas springs
apply a closing force to assist in latching the door. A
rubber seal around the door seals the pressure vessel
while in flight The door locking mechanism is operated
only from inside the aircraft, and is operated by two
handles, one in the bottom forward portion of the door
and the other in the upper aft portion of the door. When
the upper aft handle is operated per placard instructions,
two rotating cam-type latches on the forward side of the
door and two on the aft side, rotate, capturing posts
mounted on the fuselage side of the door opening. The
bottom handle, when operated per placard instructions,
actuates four pin-lug latches across the bottom of the
door. A button on the upper aft handle must be pressed
before the handle can be released to open or latch the
door. A latching lever on the bottom handle must be
lifted to release the handle before the lower latches can
be opened. These act as additional aids in preventing
accidental opening or unlatching of the door. The cabin
and cargo doors are equipped with dual sensing circuits
to provide the crew with remote indication of cabin/cargo
door security. An annunciator placarded CABIN DOOR
will illuminate if the cabin or cargo door is open and the
BATTERY switch is on. If the BATTERY switch is off,
the annunciator will illuminate only if the cabin door is
not securely closed and latched. The cabin/cargo door
sensing circuit receives power from the hot battery bus.
When operating the cargo door, ensure that
the cabin door is closed and locked.
Operating the cargo door while the cabin
door is open may damage the door hinge
and adjacent structure.
(1)
Opening the cargo door.
Avoid side loading of the gas springs to
prevent damage to the mechanism.
1.
Handle
access
door
(lower
forward comer of door) - Unfasten
and open.
2.
Handle - Lift hook and move to
OPEN position.
3.
Handle access door - Secure.
4.
Handle access door (upper aft
comer of door) - Unfasten and
open.
2-17