Doors popping open in flight

On Fri, 19 May 2006 09:04:51 -0400, "bob" wrote:

How serious is it on small twin engines with only one door? Or with 2
doors, for that matter?

Unless they've changed when it comes to Bonanzas and Barons the
official word from the Air Safety Foundation and American Bonanza
Society is either land and close it, or leave it alone until you get
to your destination otherwise they consider it *should* be a
non-issue.

They had lost enough pilots and passengers due to pilot distraction
trying to close a door that they have one sentence that covers it.
"Don't try to close the door in flight!" and they devoted a section of
in the Bo/Baron specific training to that so every one had a door pop
open at take off or on climb out. In the Deb it sounds like a shotgun
from close range. OTOH that is the cleanest the floor has ever been
in there, but it was briefly IMC in the cockpit.

Each plane is different. Adhere to what ever the manufacture, or
pilots group says.


A friend of mine tells me that he once had a twin engine Piper crash to
investigate due to ditching. It was later learned upon the conclusion of
the investigation that a passenger in the back seat was trying to switch
places with someone in the front and the door inadvertently popped open. At
that point the investigator determined, from his own similar experience,
that the plane sunk like a rock due to critical disruption of the airflow
to that could not be corrected in flight.
--The door could not be closed again!---

In many planes this is normal. In a Bonanza and Baron the door is
part of the structure and when it pops open there is over an inch of
mismatch.


As for my friend with his similar experience, his friend's hand was all
bloody from trying to hold it closed as much as he could. Fortunately, they

This is a prime example of not knowing what should be done along with
wasted time and pain. Unless they are gull type doors they are going
no where with no need to try to hold it closed.

made a safe emergency landing at an island the just happened to be nearby.

I've only flow small single engines and had NO IDEA how serious this could
be. They don't teach you that in flight school. Or is it because single

It's normally a non issue with trainers, but I can't speak for all
trainers.

engines with only one door do not react the same as the twins.

Some do and some don't.


Tell me the straight skinny so I know next time I go flying.

The only way to know for sure is to read the POH and consult the
manufacturer, (and/or) pilot/owner groups.

The number one problem with doors popping open in flight is pilot
distraction. Just ask the Air Safety Foundation.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Thanks