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Old July 8th 07, 12:32 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Viperdoc[_4_]
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Posts: 243
Default Distractions? Very distracting.

My most embarrassing moment and distraction experience also involved a door.
Throughout all of my multi training, I of course got into the Baron first,
followed by the instructor, who closed and latched the door. This included
the check ride.

When I was signed off, I went for my first ride, and the door popped open on
rotation. All of my charts and other stuff in the front got sucked out, and
the airplane definitely doesn't fly as well with the added turbulence.

I went around and landed without difficulty. However, two more takeoffs
resulted in the same result, with the door popping open on rotation.

Finally, I took it back to the hangar, and realized that I had never closed
the door past the second detent, so it had never latched. In all of the
training hours that I had accumulated, the instructors had always gotten
into the plane last, and I had never closed and latched the door myself!

Anyway, now I close the door myself from the left side, always reaching over
the front seat pax, even if they are an experienced Bonanza/Baron pilot. The
lesson about flying the plane regardless of the distraction is true,
although it definitely flies differently due to the added turbulence and
drag.

My instructor called after the third attempt, and I laughingly told her she
had given me excellent flight instruction, but had never taught me how to
close the door!