lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Skip, that's interesting that your door stayed attached. I have repaired 4 over the years that either came open or were not latched. Two of those were discovered while the pilot was still low and slow, but they came off anyway. There were all in IV-P's.

I also watched a guy fly out of here one time without one after he decided he didn't want to wait on me to fix it.

We always put the push button latch on the cabin door frame in such a position that it cannot be pushed while the cabin door is closed and locked.

Brad Simmons
Airframes Inc.
39 Airport Rd.
Milan, TN 38358
731-686-3610
731-686-3613 fax
www.airframesinc.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Skip Slater

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 2:24 PM

Subject: [LML] Re: BAGGAGE DOOR DISASTER

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