Anyone had a door pop open ?
Last sector of the day - straightforward, mid-evening good VMC 0.2 trip back to base. Noticed that I hadn't properly latched my door (R44) - bottom latch secure, top latch in the latched position, but had missed the hole it was meant for.
Passed controls to pilot in LHS, took handle, opened door - was VERY surprised at the oomph needed to pull it back to close even the bottom latch, let alone try to close the top one, due to the low pressure outside. I'd never even considered it before.
Slowing down, albeit to 50 knots or so from a cruise of 105, didn't make things any easier.
So - your experiences, please.
FWIW, my thoughts :
1. Check ALL hatches properly secure before lifting - prior to this, I'd checked the position of the handle which now seems to be lacking.
2. If the door is partially latched, but otherwise secure, leave it and sort it out on the ground, especially if single-crewed. I had another rated pilot as it was less stressy.
3. If I'd tried it on my own, almost certainly would have been a Mayday, instead of a flustered few minutes.
4. Would have slowing down to an OGE hover have helped ? Or would the downwash still have created a low enough external pressure to make closing the door properly impossible ?