What happened
On July 19, 2018, a Cirrus SR22, registration N4927, was conducting a private VFR flight departing from Lugano Airport. The flight, which included one pilot and one passenger, was intended to be a local flight with a potential landing at Locarno.
While cruising near Cannobio, Italy, at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet AMSL and a speed of 100 knots, the pilot heard a loud bang. Although the pilot initially suspected a bird strike, they quickly realized that air was rushing into the cabin through the baggage compartment. Upon returning to Lugano, the pilot discovered that the baggage door had been completely lost during the flight. The pilot sustained minor injuries during the event.
The investigation
The investigation established that the incident was preceded by an event on July 18, 2018. While cleaning the aircraft after a previous flight, one of the pilots accidentally fell against the open baggage door, dislodging it from its mount. To address the damage, the aircraft manager, who is not a licensed aircraft mechanic, reattached the door using grey adhesive tape.
The pilot operating the flight on July 19 had been notified of this temporary repair and had inspected the tape during pre-flight checks. However, the investigation focused on the structural integrity of the repair during flight operations.