Baggage Door STC?

[Modify201]

Hey guys, my ‘68 C is currently getting reborn with a glass panel, LEMO plugs, new engine, and new prop, and it came across my mind, is there an STC for the 201 baggage door with the flush handle? And would it be worth a few knots? The plane already has the 201 windshield and cowling, also wondering if the 201 style rudders have any benefit other than aesthetic?

[Utah20Gflyer]

I doubt that mod would get you even one full knot.  I have a non flush handle and still sits pretty flush.  When my step is down that costs me 3 knots and it’s absolutely huge compared to my baggage door handle.  Probably 100x the drag profile.  
 

If you want to do it for looks I can understand that but for speed?  Nah! 
 

[BillyT0020]

Of course it’s ultimately up to your IA but you shouldn’t need an STC to swap in a 201 baggage door, it’s just a newer stock Mooney part. They might want a 337 but could just be a log book entry. 

[AJ88V]

Can think of about 1000 things better to spend my money on than changing the baggage door..

I am, however, thinking about adding a newer, sexier handle on my baggage door, something made of stainless or aluminum. 

[47U]

1 hour ago, AJ88V said:

stainless or aluminum. 

Titanium?

[AJ88V]

6 hours ago, 47U said:

Titanium?

good idea.  in case the baggage door flies open in trubulence and a passenger gets sucked out, they can grab the titanium handle and keep from knocking the tail off.  

that titanium is real strong stuff!

[Gee Bee Aeroproducts]

Only as strong as what is attached to or hardware used .

GB

 

My cnc tie downs are 6061

CP2 Titanium no problem, but the market won’t bare .

 

[M20E for me]

My E has a 201 baggage door and I could only tell because you can faintly see the old 201 stencil on it.  I didn’t know the handle was different.  I was wondering what in the hell happened to the baggage door that warranted it’s replacement.  

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, M20E for me said:

My E has a 201 baggage door and I could only tell because you can faintly see the old 201 stencil on it.  I didn’t know the handle was different.  I was wondering what in the hell happened to the baggage door that warranted it’s replacement.  

If They’re not closed correctly, they pop open on takeoff and fly open.  It can crease them pretty good.  The door on my F had a slight, but noticeable crease.  I can definitely see people wanting to put a new door on to erase all memories and evidence from that experience.  Plus, some of the newer doors have the emergency inside release.

[M20F-1968]

When I did my rebuild I replaced the original F model door with a complete baggage door from a 1998 Ovation.  Replaced the side of the piano hinge that is riveted to the airframe.  It was cut and aligned to fit the other side that is attached to the door.  Once installed, nothing needed to be changed or adjusted on the Ovation.  Even the door seal is the one that was on the Ovation and it still seals.  You do need to do a 337 and have prior approved data to support the replacement.  I used a DER to do the paperwork.  PM me if you need more info.  Another advantage is the Ovation door can be opened from the inside.

John Breda

cell (617) 877-0025

email:  john.breda@gmail.com

[chunko]

On 1/9/2025 at 10:37 PM, BillyT0020 said:

Of course it’s ultimately up to your IA but you shouldn’t need an STC to swap in a 201 baggage door, it’s just a newer stock Mooney part. They might want a 337 but could just be a log book entry. 

This is a major alteration, even if it is just a newer stock Mooney part. It was never installed on the M20C from the factory.

[BillyT0020]

55 minutes ago, chunko said:

This is a major alteration, even if it is just a newer stock Mooney part. It was never installed on the M20C from the factory.

Not true but the only person whose opinion counts is the person signing the book. 

[Hank]

1 hour ago, chunko said:

This is a major alteration, even if it is just a newer stock Mooney part. It was never installed on the M20C from the factory.

My M20C left the factory with a baggage door . . . . Right there behind the back seat.

[Andy95W]

13 hours ago, chunko said:

This is a major alteration, even if it is just a newer stock Mooney part. It was never installed on the M20C from the factory.

@chunko- Where exactly would this fall into the FAA’s definition of a major alteration?  This issue was addressed in 1994, reissued in 2001, and the quotation below is from a clarification letter written in 2015:

————————————————-

The term "major alteration" is defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. As stated in that section:

Mqjor alteration means an alteration not listed in the aircraft, aircraft engine, or

propeller specifications-

( I) That might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance,

powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness;

or

(2) That is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary

operations.

—————————————-

(PS- I’ve been an A&P for 25 years and an IA for over 20).

[M20F-1968]

A DER approval based on prior approved data,  with the installation inspected by an IA, and paperwork subsequently filed with the  FAA is sufficient.  The cargo door has always been the same.  The difference lies in the locking mechanism.  The location of the locking pins remains the same.

[jetdriven]

On 1/17/2025 at 10:09 PM, chunko said:

This is a major alteration, even if it is just a newer stock Mooney part. It was never installed on the M20C from the factory.

does that make it a major alteration?

[Hank]

6 hours ago, jetdriven said:

does that make it a major alteration?

I don't see that it fits the FAA definition of "major alteration" quoted above.

It's a factory part for a different model Mooney, but the only physical difference seems to be the handle on the outside; otherwise, the dimensions are the same; the fit to the airframe is the same; mounting is the same; latching mechanism into the airframe is the same; the outside handle and the part number are different. To me, this is A&P signoff.