Re: Doors popping open in flight


"bob" <d@xxx> wrote in message
news:Knjbg.75334$Jk3.10211@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
How serious is it on small twin engines with only one door? Or with 2
doors, for that matter?

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!---

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

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

Thanks

1965 Beech Travelair, two adults with bags, full fuel, still well under
gross, 500' MSL, gear up, flaps up, nice cool spring day, normal climb out =
1100 FPM, door pops open = 300 FPM, been there, done that :-(

Allen


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Doors popping open in flight
    ... A few years ago, I departed IFR in my Seneca, and the forward door became ... A friend of mine tells me that he once had a twin engine Piper crash to ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • OT: I might have made a new friend yesterday (extremely long)
    ... I had just gotten off the phone with my wife, who was really excited that her work week was finally over. ... I grab my gun and go to the door and look out the peep hole ... Once he's in my foyer in this gigantic electric contraption he's sitting in, I realize right away that he's not going to be able to navigate past all my home gym equipment, so I have to start moving this huge universal gym out of the way, and I'm thinking this is turning out to be a lot more hassle than I signed up for. ... I am sitting there thinking, "you know, I am supposed to some big time liberal, all about diversity and such, and I don't have even *one* quadriplegic friend. ...
    (rec.gambling.poker)
  • Re: rennovations (LONG)
    ... > your friend looks at his watch, drawing in air sharply over his teeth. ... > hasn't made an appearance - when there's a knock on the door. ... > living your old life has to be rediscovered. ... You cry your broken heart out because you see now the ...
    (uk.people.support.depression)
  • Re: rennovations (LONG)
    ... Then there's a knock at the door. ... your friend looks at his watch, drawing in air sharply over his teeth. ... further rennovations, counting the hours until your friend can come back. ... living your old life has to be rediscovered. ...
    (uk.people.support.depression)
  • Re: Were you the old git at Grafty Green garden centre this afternoon?
    ... friend and I wandered through a door being held open for us by some old ... about us not thanking him - the old git was singularly unimpressed with ... I had my 18 year old daughter with me once and we were shopping in JS ... behaviour, like our friend Manky, wanting to slap them silly. ...
    (uk.local.kent)