Luggage lost in-flight due to small aircraft baggage door failure while flying in severe turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	145706
Time
Date	199005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hgo airport : cos
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 650 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	145706
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying toward colorado springs we picked up moderate turbulence about 30 mi east of hugo VOR. Noting clear air toward south and overcast north, we diverted southwest. For a brief period (less than 15 seconds) we had severe clear air turbulence. When we landed at colorado springs, we learned from the FBO lineman that our baggage door was loose. His written statement establishes that the lock on the door was in the locked position. It appears that in the turbulence some of the luggage hit the door with sufficient force to pop the lock flange out of the slot. We examined the lock mechanism and it continues to function properly. We have learned that later models of the aircraft have a new locking mechanism with a more positive action. We are investigating whether it can be retrofitted to our model. The luggage that was dropped included: one 12 pack of pepsi cola, one briefcase, and one lap-top computer, valued at $3500.00. Since it was such a barren section of kansas/colorado, we don't believe there was any significant chance or damage to property or life on the ground. We would recommend that a backup system be used, e.g., luggage straps or a basket of webbed material.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LUGGAGE LOST INFLT DUE TO SMA BAGGAGE DOOR FAILURE WHILE FLYING IN SEVERE TURBULENCE.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING TOWARD COLORADO SPRINGS WE PICKED UP MODERATE TURB ABOUT 30 MI E OF HUGO VOR. NOTING CLEAR AIR TOWARD S AND OVCST N, WE DIVERTED SW. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD (LESS THAN 15 SECONDS) WE HAD SEVERE CLEAR AIR TURB. WHEN WE LANDED AT COLORADO SPRINGS, WE LEARNED FROM THE FBO LINEMAN THAT OUR BAGGAGE DOOR WAS LOOSE. HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT ESTABLISHES THAT THE LOCK ON THE DOOR WAS IN THE LOCKED POS. IT APPEARS THAT IN THE TURB SOME OF THE LUGGAGE HIT THE DOOR WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO POP THE LOCK FLANGE OUT OF THE SLOT. WE EXAMINED THE LOCK MECHANISM AND IT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT LATER MODELS OF THE ACFT HAVE A NEW LOCKING MECHANISM WITH A MORE POSITIVE ACTION. WE ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER IT CAN BE RETROFITTED TO OUR MODEL. THE LUGGAGE THAT WAS DROPPED INCLUDED: ONE 12 PACK OF PEPSI COLA, ONE BRIEFCASE, AND ONE LAP-TOP COMPUTER, VALUED AT $3500.00. SINCE IT WAS SUCH A BARREN SECTION OF KANSAS/COLORADO, WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANCE OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR LIFE ON THE GND. WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT A BACKUP SYS BE USED, E.G., LUGGAGE STRAPS OR A BASKET OF WEBBED MATERIAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.