PA-34-200T Turbo Seneca II
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 1450; Flight Crew Type 275
Confusion; Distraction; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft; Procedure
On a training flight today in a PA 34/200 I was flying with 2 students doing full stop taxi backs on Runway 27 left. After flying one full hour with the first student we pulled off the side of the runway to switch to the other students. After 3 circuits; turning from crosswind to a left downwind for Runway 27 left we heard a very loud bang and both saw a black object. Shortly after that the baggage door ripped off the nose of the air plane and flew over at the windshield. At that point we were in a left turn and the aircraft became very hard to control. Not knowing what had happened from inside the aircraft we made shallow banked turns to land on Runway 30. I automatically thought it was a bird strike which I informed the Tower of. I did not declare an emergency due to the fact the landing gear came down and the engines were running. Although difficult to control did not feel the need to call out an emergency. The FAA met us at the school and claimed it was not a bird strike due to the fact there was no debris. I am positive the baggage door was closed and locked due to the fact it was an initial flight for these two students and a through pre flight was conducted has it was part of the lesson; where I stressed the importance of making sure the baggage door was locked.
Following a loud bang; a PA34-200 baggage door flew over the windshield and the aircraft became difficult to fly so the Instructor with two students in the landing pattern took control and landed.