Baggage Door Opened in Flight

[flyboy0681]

I don't see how locking could make any difference unless vibration is causing the rods to work out of the holes. All the lock does is keep the lever down and mine is very hard to open. There was a defective nut behind the yoke that caused the baggage door to come open on an Ovation I know of. I follow a friends advice now, if it isn't latched it is wide open, either latched or full open. If they pop open when latched wouldn't it mean that the rods are out of adjustment?

 

I take a somewhat different tact. By habit I lock it because that forces me to make sure the latch is secured. The one time I am distracted will be the time that it pops open in flight.

[carusoam]

This would be the first I remember of one opening in flight beyond the airport area...

Usually the wind noise and maelstrom of floating papers and stuff happens at or near rotation.

Followed by going around the pattern and landing without exceeding traffic pattern speeds.

I am in the camp of the PIC is the only person to close the doors. If somebody else closes it, The PIC watches or checks prior to departure...

Doors stay open until they get closed and latched. It is not OK (in my plane) to close without latching.

The one time I left the M20C baggage door unlatched, it opened on rotation...

Sounds like something broke or fell apart?

Best regards,

-a-