Incident Overview
During the initial climb after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level, the nose baggage door opened. The pilot stated the door had been properly closed and locked before departure. In response, the pilot initiated an immediate descent and landed on the remaining runway.
Landing and Structural Damage
The pilot delayed the leveloff during the landing, which resulted in a hard touchdown. The impact forces exceeded the structural limits, causing the left main landing gear to collapse due to overload.
Post-Incident Examination
A post-incident examination of the door latching and locking mechanism found no broken or improper parts. However, there was noticeable wear and misadjusted components within the mechanism.
Manufacturer Response
Piper Aircraft Corporation issued a Service Bulletin (No. 872) one day after the incident. The bulletin addressed the issue of worn and/or misadjusted components in the latching and locking system.
Findings
The investigation identified wear and misadjustment in the door latching/locking mechanism. No determination of a direct cause was provided in the source.