The forward cargo door of a PA32 opens just after lift- off. Pilot, with some difficulty, flies airc...

Attributes
ACN	364564
Time
Date	199703
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 250 agl bound upper : 250
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hnl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1950 flight time type : 480
ASRS Report	364564
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Immediately after lift-off, the forward cargo hatch (right side of cowling area) flew open -- this was at about 250 ft MSL. I notified tower and requested to return for landing to secure the hatch. The piper saratoga was about 200 pounds under gross weight, climbing was difficult and directional control necessitated full right rudder. A normal landing was made, I turned off at the first intersection, closed the hatch and took off again utilizing the remaining 3400 ft of runway. My family was in the aircraft and we were headed to kauai for the weekend. My son had pulled the aircraft out of the hangar after my preflight. He stowed the tow bar in the forward cargo hatch, I assumed he secured the hatch. With the confusion, loading everyone, including our dog, I didn't double check. Big mistake. I usually do a second walkaround right before getting into the aircraft to make sure everything is buttoned up but I didn't this time and look what happened. Also, once I was airborne and convinced that the aircraft was flying and had a positive rate of climb, I decided to go around the pattern and land, rather than land straight ahead with the remaining runway available. I probably had more than enough to land. I am going to check this out further.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR OF A PA32 OPENS JUST AFTER LIFT- OFF. PLT, WITH SOME DIFFICULTY, FLIES ACFT AROUND FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG TO SECURE THE DOOR. HIS SON HAD MOVED ACFT OUT OF HANGAR AND STOWED THE TOW BAR IN THAT BIN, FAILING TO LATCH IT PROPERLY.

Narrative: IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE FORWARD CARGO HATCH (R SIDE OF COWLING AREA) FLEW OPEN -- THIS WAS AT ABOUT 250 FT MSL. I NOTIFIED TWR AND REQUESTED TO RETURN FOR LNDG TO SECURE THE HATCH. THE PIPER SARATOGA WAS ABOUT 200 LBS UNDER GROSS WT, CLBING WAS DIFFICULT AND DIRECTIONAL CTL NECESSITATED FULL R RUDDER. A NORMAL LNDG WAS MADE, I TURNED OFF AT THE FIRST INTXN, CLOSED THE HATCH AND TOOK OFF AGAIN UTILIZING THE REMAINING 3400 FT OF RWY. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE ACFT AND WE WERE HEADED TO KAUAI FOR THE WEEKEND. MY SON HAD PULLED THE ACFT OUT OF THE HANGAR AFTER MY PREFLT. HE STOWED THE TOW BAR IN THE FORWARD CARGO HATCH, I ASSUMED HE SECURED THE HATCH. WITH THE CONFUSION, LOADING EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR DOG, I DIDN'T DOUBLE CHK. BIG MISTAKE. I USUALLY DO A SECOND WALKAROUND RIGHT BEFORE GETTING INTO THE ACFT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS BUTTONED UP BUT I DIDN'T THIS TIME AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. ALSO, ONCE I WAS AIRBORNE AND CONVINCED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING AND HAD A POSITIVE RATE OF CLB, I DECIDED TO GAR THE PATTERN AND LAND, RATHER THAN LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD WITH THE REMAINING RWY AVAILABLE. I PROBABLY HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TO LAND. I AM GOING TO CHK THIS OUT FURTHER.

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.

The forward cargo door of a PA32 opens just after lift- off. Pilot, with some difficulty, flies aircraft around for a precautionary landing to secure the door. His son had moved aircraft out of hangar and stowed the tow bar in that bin, failing to latch it properly.