Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Just after takeoff we were being vectored south off Runway XXR to ZZZ VOR. At about 3000 ft. climbing to 4000 ft. We hit what was thought was clear air turbulence. Sharp firm jolt that rocked the airplane once and stopped. Then a few seconds after got a 'bag door open' message on EICAS. I was the PM (Pilot Monitoring) and told ATC immediately we have to level off to trouble shoot an issue. We stopped climb at 5000 ft. I immediately asked for vectors and realized it was not clear air turbulence. Ran the QRH it said to continue to 10;000 ft. and trouble shoot for pressurization issues; then consider landing at nearest suitable if there is an issue. I was conducting a requal IOE (Initial Operating Experience) and had a new pilot as Pilot Flying. The weather was building and it would have become a task saturated event if we tried to climb and troubleshoot for pressurization issues. This jolt was not normal. I decided to do an air return since we were so close to ZZZ and it is most suitable. I told my trainee to continue to fly and talk with ATC for vectors and give me some time to set up for an air return. Contacted Dispatch and Maintenance Control and ZZZ Operations to let them know we were coming back. Got it all set up. Completed burn off the fuel and landed without further event. Coming to know after Maintenance came on board. The entire cargo load shifted and fell on the bag door somehow set off the sensor.Threats was conducting IOE; weather; vectors around weather. Trainee and myself learned that workload management is imperative and would make a difference...clear concise leadership and communication plan stated allowed me to decide to have him fly while I got in the books and did all the housekeeping to allow a successful and safe air return. It was his first time seeing and being part of one and was definitely getting overwhelmed.
EMB-145 First Officer reported executing a precautionary air return due to an EICAS message.