Baggage door opens on take-off.

[Steveair]

I have had the baggage door open on take off three times. (1965 M20 E)

Locking it with the key prevents opening. Any comments?

[jetdriven]

The M20J POH says to lock the door beofore flying, so we do.  It appears to be the same baggage door.  It happened to our plane with the previous owners.

[Shadrach]

Quote: Steveair

I have had the baggage door open on take off three times. (1965 M20 E)

Locking it with the key prevents opening. Any comments?

[201er]

So the POH recommends locking it but locking it prevents it from being an emergency exit...?

[kerry]

I once forgot to latch my baggage door and it swung open on take off.  The interior of the door blew off ended up on the middle of the runway.  I was able to abort my landing and taxied off the runway.  I ran over to the runway to retrieve my interior panel.  I had to wait for 3 grand canyon twin otters to land prior to running out to the middle of the runway so I could get my panel.  I now lock my baggage door as part of my preflight to ensure its latched.  The other day I saw a piper lance land with its front baggage door propped wide open.  I was suprised it didn't come off the airframe.

[sleepingsquirrel]

After one taxi back to check the door (it was locked) when I wasn't sure if I had latched it, I made a rule.  The rule for me is there are two positions for this door fully open and latched and locked,never let it down from fully open unless the key is in the lock. The key for start is on the same ring.

The disapproving looks of disgust from Mrs. S on the taxi back was enough for me!

[Skywarrior]

Dan at LASAR told me that if you lock the baggage door, you can still get out by using the emergency exit thingamabob on the inside. Said it unlocks and opens the latch at the same time.

Haven't tried it yet.

Chuck M.

[jetdriven]

Mooney Service Instruction M20-82 shows how to add a door release inside the baggage door, which does open it if locked form the outside.  It only applies to J and K models though. We do not have this mod.

The invoice for our plane to repair the baggage door shows the frame was straightened and door reskinned.  1,000$ repair.

 

Squirrel, we do the same thing, its either opened, or closed and locked, nothing in between.

[Cris]

While I reallize that locking the baggage door may be the prescribed method I have often wondered if that might be an issue for emergency personnel trying to gain access. Hence I never lock the door. 

[Gone]

Mine has never opened in flight and it does not need to be locked to stay shut, but this thread does remind me that I was once caught taxiing to the fuel pumps with it inadvertently left open.

 

[FlyDave]

I was taxiing out on my first XC flight in my Mooney when someone got on the radio and said "Mooney 60N, your baggage door is open", to which I replied "Ohhhh....THANK YOU!!" and taxied back to the my hangar, shut down and closed and locket it. I looked at that door for about 2 minutes thinking "Geeze, that was close".

That morning I started using a final walk around checklist that I do EVERY time I fly. It is:

1. 
   
2. Left fuel cap locked and flush with wing top
   
3. Oil door closed/locked
   
4. Right fuel cap locked and flush with wing top
   
5. Baggage door closed and locked
   

As I said, I do this every time I fly. And yes, my plane has the emergency release from the inside.

[carusoam]

Door is wide open, until I close it personally.  I consider it a PIC PIA.  My fuel cup is on the shelf.  I sump every flight.

 

M20C does not have the emergency release handle from the inside that the newer models have.  I believe, with some effort, you can grab the main locking pins and open the door from the inside.  Locking the handle may preclude this.  Having a proper tool would be a good idea.

 

M20R does have the emergency release.  Make sure it is properly assembled  and pinned in place, or the exterior handle can be closed and locked and the two main lock pins may not be in place.

 

I removed the covers from the door last week for seal mx and got to test the operation of the system.

 

My door latch seems to have the "over-center" feel to it to keep it closed during low speeds, wind against the handle should keep it from opening in flight?

 

Does your latch have a slight "over-center" feel when closing it?

 

Best regards,

 

-a-

[DaV8or]

Do they make, or can the vintage planes be retrofitted with an inside handle? Locked or not locked, no way I'm getting out of the baggage door in an emergency. Would be nice to add.

I too have a hard time believing my baggage door would open in any phase of flight if properly latched, however, after hearing the testimonies here, I may start locking it.

[JaredDavis]

My 65C is keyed in such a way that I can not remove the key unless the baggasge door is locked.

The POH for later C models has this line:

"Effective S/N 20-1240 & ON, if desired for any reason, the baggage door can be opened from the inside even though locked."

Does anyone have the parts manual for serial 20-1240 & ON? Can you share the Baggage door details?

 

 

[carusoam]

 

     <----------I

                  I

                  O

                  I

        X=)     I--------->

 

Lock

Mechanism

 

[carusoam]

Jared,

 

According to the parts manual for the 1965 M20C,  the locking mechanism gets in the way of the rear most pin that is holding the baggage door shut.

 

In the crude drawing above "O" is the center of rotation.

 

--------> are the main pins that slide into position to hold the door shut

 

x=) is the lock mechanism that rotates around the x.

 

If the lock is in the way, it will be difficult to move the main pins.  Unless the lock can be turned from inside?

 

There are springs on the mechanism that give an over-center security to the system.

 

On the M20R,  the locking mechanism directly blocks the exterior handle.  There is a slot in the handle that is engaged by the lock.  The interior release separates the system from the exterior handle.

 

You can take the cover off the baggage door to determine how your system actually works.  Look to see that the over center springs are working properly.

 

Best regards,

 

-a-

[orangemtl]

How timely. I flew to Chicago from AZ and back this weekend.  Baggage door flew open on takeoff in Great Bend, KS after a refueling/bladder stop.  Stayed in the pattern/landed, keeping airspeed below 100 to avoid needless damage to the door.  Didn't work too well: aluminum creased near the hinge, and one end of the piano hinge was sheared. 

I am SUCH an idiot for not REchecking the door before departure. Fortunately still lockable/secured for subsquent flight, but: nasty blemish on my plane, and it's sort of a "LOOK AT ME: I'M A MORON" badge of (dis)honor.

Won't happen twice. Will lock it in the future.

[lahso]

I always lock my baggage door. When stepping up onto the wing to enter the cockpit, it's part of my external checklist.

[flight2000]

Quote: orangemtl

How timely. I flew to Chicago from AZ and back this weekend.  Baggage door flew open on takeoff in Great Bend, KS after a refueling/bladder stop.  Stayed in the pattern/landed, keeping airspeed below 100 to avoid needless damage to the door.  Didn't work too well: aluminum creased near the hinge, and one end of the piano hinge was sheared. 

I am SUCH an idiot for not REchecking the door before departure. Fortunately still lockable/secured for subsquent flight, but: nasty blemish on my plane, and it's sort of a "LOOK AT ME: I'M A MORON" badge of (dis)honor.

Won't happen twice. Will lock it in the future.

[Vref]

I lock mine also, part of my external preflight...When I bought my plane the door was bended where the hinge is located so I guess it came from trying to take off with the thing open or it flew open once...

luc

 

[JaredDavis]

My lock must be keyed differently. I can not remove the key unless it is locked.

 

Attached are 2 versions of the baggage door latch mechanism. I don't have one that shows the C with an interior release on m20C serial 20-1240+. Anyone have that diagram?

 

[jetdriven]

Jared, that looks different than mine does and I have a J. Come to think of it, I haven't seen this style of latch on any other J either, is it the wrong one for the plane?

[Shadrach]

That's the same latch I have on my 67 F. As I said before, I can't imagine how it would come open if properly latched. Once it's locked, forget about opening it from inside or out, unless you have a chisel and a hammer or Jaws of life...neither of which would I want to wait for in the event of a fire. 

My key comes out just fine whether it's locked or unlocked. I suspect most vintage mooneys are this way as it is the same key and lock set that is used for the door.

[Hank]

Quote: Shadrach

That's the same latch I have on my 67 F. As I said before, I can't imagine how it would come open if properly latched. Once it's locked, forget about opening it inside or out unless you have a chisel and a hammer of Jaws of life...neither of which would I want to wait for in the event of a fire. 

My key comes out just fine whether it's locked or unlocked. I suspect most vintage mooneys are this way as it is the same key and lock set that is used for the door.

[flight2000]

I have the same key for the baggage and front doors.  It'll come out if it's open or locked as well.

If there should happen to be a fire, I plan to kick the windows out if I can't get the front door open.  I have a tool to help assist with this matter if need be.  It's only plexiglass, so it can't be that hard.... could it?  Probably take the same amount of time as trying to crawl over the seats.  Looks like the windows are a smidge bigger on the opening, but haven't measured to verify that.

Brian