Baggage door emergency exit?

[75_M20F]

Has anyone modified their baggage door so as to be able to open it from the inside? I have heard of it being done, but would like to know more if anyone has done it.

 

[Bob_Belville]

I did mine. The last time I posted a pic someone here suggested I was at risk if I ever had a ramp check... (the piano wire is connected to the latch mechanism. I intend to add a proper pull ring. The pic was taken to show the water stain. The head liner and the door seal was subsequently replaced.)

 

[75_M20F]

OK, that's one blurry picture. It gives me a direction to go in though. Thank you

[cnoe]

Here's how the setup looks in a stock '78 J. The "cover" referred to in the placard has never been in my plane but I'm fine with the exposed handle and pull-pin.

I'm thinking that a retrofit with J parts would be fairly simple.

 

[kortopates]

I thought there used to be a Mooney service instruction and parts list you can order to install on earlier Mooney's without it. No idea, but I wouldn't expect it to be expensive, just some basic hardware with the lever.

[Browncbr1]

Do many people lock their baggage door before departure?   I've always thought this would prevent the door from possibly opening in flight.   The cam on my door seems more like a friction lock than a positive click, so I've always locked it.  Thoughts?

[Guest]

Locking the baggage door prior to flight leaves a rescuer with no means of unlocking/opening it in an emergency if the crew or passengers are incapacitated and the main door is jambed.

Clarence

[Browncbr1]

Yea, I've always locked it too, but this thread has made me consider something that I hadn't before.   

[Bob - S50]

2 hours ago, M20Doc said:

Locking the baggage door prior to flight leaves a rescuer with no means of unlocking/opening it in an emergency if the crew or passengers are incapacitated and the main door is jambed.

Clarence

True.

However, I'd rather plan for the 9999 flights that don't end in a crash and ensure the door stays closed rather than the one flight that ends poorly.  Plus  that one flight would have to happen so quickly that we don't have time to unlock the main door before we land off airport.  And if would have to be so bad that we are unable to extract ourselves from the plane.  And there would have to be somebody close that could help us.  And it would have to be a case where timing was critical such as a fire.  And they would have to think about entering through the baggage compartment rather than just kicking out a window.

I think I'll still lock my baggage door.

[carusoam]

1) Mine stays positively closed.

2) I don't lock it.  Only PIC is allowed to close the baggage door on my ship.  It stays fully open until it is fully closed...

3) real modern Mooney's have the ability to open a locked baggage door from the inside.

4) Those that can't open a locked door from the inside can buy an update kit from Mooney.

5) having one of those window breaking hammer devices would be a good idea. 

PP thoughts only, stuff I learned on MS....

Best regards,

-a-

 

[gsxrpilot]

I've never locked mine. Either in the '64 M20C or the '87 M20K. But I'm with Alan, only PIC closes the baggage door. And it's NEVER closed without being latched.

In the short body C, I could reach back while strapped in the left front seat, and check that it was latched. The mid-body K is just a few inches too long.

[Hank]

I lock mine when traveling, after I unload and before putting the canopy cover on. On the ground, it's either open or latched, except when pulling in / out of the hangar (the towbar must go back in before departure).

[gsxrpilot]

With my C, the baggage door wouldn't be sure of standing open. A light bit of wind could lift it and then let it slam shut. So I'd never leave it standing open, and if it was down, I wanted it latched for fear of taking off and thinking it was latched when it wasn't.

With the K, the door will stay open in anything but the strongest wind. So I'm not opposed to letting it stand open while unloading/loading, towing around on the ramp, or pushing into the hangar.

I'll also always lock it if leaving it parked on a ramp away from home.  Reflective shades go up inside the windows, doors/window locked, and cover on if it's parked outside away from home. Someone's gonna have to pop a lock before they even get a look at what's inside.