Self-locking door

[Rick Scupham]

Odd occurrence the other day-- after finishing a flight, the main cabin door would not open, trapping me inside. I called the FBO, which sent someone out to the plane. I passed him the key through the window, and he was able to unlock it from outside. Seems it had somehow locked itself in flight! I've flown this airplane for 18 years without this happening before. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Rick

[takair]

Not that exactly, but I can easily turn the key lock with a fingernail and lock my door.  I never even use the key to lock the cabin door.  That said, I can now imagine it vibrating locked on a longer flight.  Need to somehow add friction.

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard, Rick.

18 years of Mooney ownership and today is the day you joined MS!

This is a tough one because the Ks door can't be locked then closed, can it?

Rob brings up an interesting point.  How loose is your lock, does it need the key to turn?

Stand by, we have a few people around here that are pretty familiar with the various door systems...

Best regards,

-a-

[N201MKTurbo]

In my F I had the roll pin in the door latch handle shear and I couldn't get out. had to call the FBO to let me out.

[PaulM]

We had the exact same thing happen in a J model.. If you don't make sure that the key latch is fully up (180°) it can drop back into the latch slot. (perhaps due to wear it lets the key out without being at the top. )  so yes, check the play in the latch with the key out. 

We had to remove the cargo door latch cover and use the emergency exit, since there wasn't anyone around on the ramp to help us out. 

[kortopates]

It happens a lot. The cheap Chicago cabinet locks used wear over the many years we have put them into service and then the vibration causes them to rotate down into the locked position. You're going to need new locks or it will continue to happen at a greater frequency. You can replace them with same cheap Chicago locks of you can go to a much better quality and more secure Medeco locks. If you really want to enhance security you can also re-key the ignition with a Medeco lock (as the factory currently does) in addition to the cabin door and baggage door. But I just did the two doors myself.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ron McBride]

I had the same problem, installed Medeco locks and the problem is gone.   Maybe an hour to install.

Ron

[Oldguy]

Had this happen on an F model within 2 years of it being new. Lineman thought it was a bit weird when we asked him to come to the pilot side vent window.

[Bob_Belville]

I would just open the vent window and unlock it. 

[Jerry 5TJ]

  On 8/18/2016 at 8:16 AM, N201MKTurbo said:

In my F I had the roll pin in the door latch handle shear and I couldn't get out. had to call the FBO to let me out.

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Ditto in my E: Pin sheared.  Crawled back to baggage, got the vice grips out of the tool bag and used them to open the door. 

[Bob_Belville]

  On 8/27/2016 at 1:38 AM, Jerry 5TJ said:

Ditto in my E: Pin sheared.  Crawled back to baggage, got the vice grips out of the tool bag and used them to open the door. 

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See pic above. I'd reach out the vent window and open the door. <chuckle>

[Jerry 5TJ]

  On 8/27/2016 at 12:42 PM, Bob_Belville said:

See pic above. I'd reach out the vent window and open the door. <chuckle>

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Well, to do that on the E that I owned I'd have needed some Orangutan DNA.  

[Bob_Belville]

  On 8/27/2016 at 1:12 PM, Jerry 5TJ said:

Well, to do that on the E that I owned I'd have needed some Orangutan DNA.  

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For under $500 you can give your E a new door window with a pre-assembled vent. 

http://www.glapinc.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=639_144_443_146&products_id=1270

[Jerry 5TJ]

  On 8/27/2016 at 2:30 PM, Bob_Belville said:

For under $500 you can give your E a new door window with a pre-assembled vent. 

http://www.glapinc.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=639_144_443_146&products_id=1270

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That's good.  But for under $10 I can carry a pair of cheap Harbor Freight vice grips in the seat pouch.  Besides, I sold that E 16 years ago.