Incident Overview
A scheduled air taxi flight was preparing to depart from Point Hope, Alaska, with a destination of Wainwright, Alaska. While the aircraft was on the ground at Point Hope, the station agent loaded the nose baggage compartment and closed the nose baggage door. The pilot visually checked the nose baggage door while standing on the wing next to the cockpit door.
Takeoff and Baggage Door Opening
During the takeoff roll, at rotation, the nose baggage door came fully open. Baggage and boxes exited the nose baggage compartment and fell through the left engine's propeller. The passenger reported that a duffel bag hit the propeller, and he described the propeller as being destroyed by the encounter.
Landing and Uncontrolled Roll
The pilot elected to land on sea ice. Just prior to touching down, the airplane started a slow, uncontrolled roll to the left. The passenger's account indicated that the propeller was destroyed when the duffel bag struck it.
Pilot's Understanding and Training
According to the pilot, the company training program included instructions concerning baggage door operation. The pilot was under the impression from informal discussions that the PA-31 airplane would not fly with the nose baggage door in the open position. The company training program did not discuss operations with an open nose baggage door.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.