Jump to content

Emergency Landing | Baggage Door Blow Off Mid Flight | Model K


Recommended Posts

22nm after take off, mid point between Charlton Park(Private) & Fairoaks (London) the baggage hatch blow off which then could caught & wrapped it’s self firmly around the right hand tail elevator. We immediately lost lift and declared an emergency with ATC who had us on a basic service, lucky we were within distance of a 770m grass / gravel strip between some solar panel farms. Other than the damage to the elevator and hatch looks like we were extremely lucky to walk away unharmed.
 

(3:52) in the video

 

 

B7BB3FD1-E345-45C5-918E-D5DE9C08B2E3.jpeg

4A7CA3E0-DEAD-4F74-9B79-389BE5F528B5.jpeg

9FF99B09-A1E1-4195-B474-81345DE07FA2.jpeg

02524F31-9240-4D42-8488-AF4B2B7FFA1C.jpeg

C9D0890B-DFE2-4E7D-8BB4-81FC768E0447.jpeg

3BB13518-A848-42CC-A0AE-838AACA83CA3.jpeg

Edited by RedSkyFlyer
770m*
  • Like 16
  • Thanks 4
  • Confused 1
  • Sad 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! I’ve heard of the luggage door opening inflight on several occasions, but I have not seen/heard of one hitting the stabilator and actually getting lodged in the stab. Good job getting down safely. Would like to hear more about the controllability of the aircraft from the time the incident begins.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Door was latched not locked outside. Gave everything a good tap & tug in preflight and checked over my shoulder at the inside latch on power checks , all ops normal. The AC only came back from annual ARC yesterday which is playing on my mind. 

With the debris on the wing and the new hole in the fuselage I could feel the extra drag (you can see me fighting the yoke with two hands in the video) the AC wanted to roll right and pitch nose down, it was a challenge to keep her level, the trim definitely helped. I tried to keep the air speed above 100kts all the way round until final putting out the gear and last notch of flaps at the last second 10ft above the ground.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That has to be a first! I have heard of the baggage door popping open many times, coming off maybe a few Times but wrapping around the horizontal stabilizer, never! 
Glad you got it to the ground safely! You had me worried with the gear!!
I used to always lock the baggage door before flight until recently since I have been flying with the kids in the back seats. I felt like the benefits of being unlocked out weighed the risk of the door coming open with back seat passengers. With only the front seats full I always lock baggage door.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A first is right! Doors popping open in flight from being unlocked is not that uncommon, but getting caught on the elevator has to be a new first! So glad you got it down okay and had such a nice field to roll out on without incurring any more damage. That horizontal stab and door are replaceable but not you! Good job managing a terrible situation all the way through it!

Edited by kortopates
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, kortopates said:

A first is right! Doors popping open in flight from being unlocked is not that uncommon, but getting caught on the elevator has to be a new first! So glad you got it down okay and had such a nice field to roll out on without incurring any more damage. That elevator and door are replaceable but not you! Good job managing a terrible situation all the way through it!

Actually his elevator looks ok, the horizontal stabilizer is toast.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:


Not according to the first comment on YouTube.

Which just goes to show that one should never post on Youtube! Noise coupled with controllability issues will challenge your airmanship. I had an aileron control issue in an C-150 Aerobat coming out of a hammerhead years ago and I still recall that not knowing what had broken or if the airplane would suddenly become uncontrollable was very mentally challenging to deal with.

Nice job getting it down safely. And, kudos to your copilot for staying cool.

I wonder what happened? If the latch comes loose, the door should fly open and get bent but stay attached by the hinge. From the video it doesn't appear that the door came unlatched and then beat around a lot before departing -- it seems to have departed abruptly. I notice in the pictures that the piano hinge pin is missing and it looks like part of the hinge on the door is missing or bent.

Skip

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.