X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:24:32 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from vms173017pub.verizon.net ([206.46.173.17] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.7) with ESMTP id 6508516 for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:17:19 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=206.46.173.17; envelope-from=skipslater@verizon.net Received: from SkipPC ([unknown] [74.111.221.50]) by vms173017.mailsrvcs.net (Sun Java(tm) System Messaging Server 7u2-7.02 32bit (built Apr 16 2009)) with ESMTPA id <0MUE00316T7LWWA0@vms173017.mailsrvcs.net> for lml@lancaironline.net; Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:16:34 -0500 (CDT) X-Original-Message-id: <9948AC79CB8C4FE3A81165B1DF073AAB@SkipPC> From: "Skip Slater" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" References: In-reply-to: Subject: Re: [LML] BAGGAGE DOOR DISASTER X-Original-Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:15:32 -0700 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0035_01CEC4D0.1B1844A0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-priority: Normal Importance: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Windows Live Mail 14.0.8089.726 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V14.0.8089.726 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01CEC4D0.1B1844A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Peter, I have a solenoid operated baggage door release on my ES. It began = as a mechanical system, but the mechanism was not easy to push open, so = I switched to a solenoid a few years ago. I considered the possibility = of an inadvertent inflight activation, so I included a microswitch that = opens the circuit to the solenoid whenever my door is latched closed. = So far it's worked flawlessly. By the way, before I went to the solenoid, I had my baggage door open = in flight one day climbing out at 140-150 KIAS. I simply hadn't fully = latched it and it popped open. I wouldn't have known it had happened if = I didn't have a "Baggage Door Open" annunciator light in my panel. I'd = seen that light before a few times when the switch that activated it got = out of adjustment and assumed that's what had happened this time. Then = I started feeling a draft on my neck and looked over my shoulder to see = the door fully open. Much to my surprise it was steady as a rock. I = immediately reduced power and slowed down as much as possible, lowering = my flaps as I decelerated and began descending for a landing at the = nearest airport. Amazingly, with the flaps down, the door also came = down from fully open to about 1/4 open. I tried modulating the flaps a = little and the door moved up and down with them. It remained stable in = all positions until I landed. I checked everything out, found no damage = whatsoever, closed the door and took off. I was very fortunate that = there was nothing in the baggage area that could have been sucked out = but as a result of this experience, I now pack my bags such that nothing = small or light is near the door just in case. I always try to have my = largest bag go in last and block the door opening so nothing around it = could get out. Thankfully, I've never had a repeat occurrence of the = door coming open. Skip Slater N540ES ------=_NextPart_000_0035_01CEC4D0.1B1844A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Peter,

I have a solenoid operated = baggage=20 door release on my ES. It began as a mechanical system, but the = mechanism=20 was not easy to push open, so I switched to a solenoid a few years = ago. I=20 considered the possibility of an inadvertent inflight activation, so I = included=20 a microswitch that opens the circuit to the solenoid whenever my door is = latched=20 closed. So far it's worked flawlessly.

By the way, before I went = to the=20 solenoid, I had my baggage door open in flight one day climbing out = at=20 140-150 KIAS. I simply hadn't fully latched it and = it popped=20 open. I wouldn't have known it had happened if I didn't have a = "Baggage=20 Door Open" annunciator light in = my=20 panel. I'd seen that light before a few times when the switch that = activated it got out of adjustment and assumed that's what had happened = this=20 time. Then I started feeling a draft on my neck and looked over my = shoulder to see the door fully open. Much to my surprise it was = steady as=20 a rock. I immediately reduced power and slowed down as much as = possible,=20 lowering my flaps as I decelerated and began descending for a landing at = the=20 nearest airport. Amazingly, with the flaps down, the door also = came down=20 from fully open to about 1/4 open. I tried modulating the flaps a = little=20 and the door moved up and down with them. It remained stable in = all=20 positions until I landed. I checked everything out, found no = damage=20 whatsoever, closed the door and took off. I was very = fortunate that=20 there was nothing in the baggage area that could have been sucked out = but as a=20 result of this experience, I now pack my bags such that nothing = small or=20 light is near the door just in case. I always try to have my = largest bag=20 go in last and block the door opening so nothing around it could get = out. =20 Thankfully, I've never had a repeat occurrence of the door coming=20 open.

Skip Slater

=20 N540ES

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