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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
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