Golden Eagle 421
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 17000; Flight Crew Type 140
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
IFR conditions on takeoff; 500 FT overcast; 1 mile visibility. After rotation and gear retraction the forward right cargo door popped open. The aircraft yawed right and began to slow. I elected to land straight ahead. I reduced power; lowered the nose selected gear down and flared. In the flare I heard two points of contact. Immediately pulled the nose up and applied power. I flew it around at low altitude to maintain VFR. I also left the gear in the down position. The landing was uneventful. After taxi in and shutdown I discovered that both props had the tips curled. There was evidence of light scrapping on both inboard gear doors. Thoughts: I prepare for normal abnormals by attending a recurrent simulator training specific to my airplane. On takeoff I am expecting an engine failure and have practice it many times. I would have continued with an engine failure; but elected to land with the cargo door! Prior to this event a friend told me a story about the same situation happening to him many years ago in a 421. Same door pops open on a clear day and he flew it around for landing. He claimed the aircraft was very difficult to control. I believe this story had an influence on my choice that day! The choice was take a potentially difficult to control airplane into the clouds or land straight ahead.
A C421 cargo door opened on takeoff so the pilot attempted a straight ahead landing. Upon hearing a scraping sound; the pilot went around. After landing found propeller and fuselage damage from runway contact.