I too had the door depart on my first flight in N141EW as an instructor. It
took
six months to get the parts from England.. The installation and painting took
another month. I felt bad about my door coming off during flight. Took a
helicopter up and looked around for the door, but never found it. No damage to
the airframe.
It is interesting that Dr. Johnson's doors are super easy to open and close, but
my doors are hard. I took Bob's ideal and use a cord from the pilot's door
to the PAX's door and pull on the cord before take off. I generally am able to
see day light out the back if the door is not close. If I don't keep the doors
close when not flying then I have trouble closing them before takeoff. I
couple of times I've had to shut down the engine. get out and close the pilot's
door from the outside. Then walk around and get in from the PAX's door. As
big as I am that is a sight.
Losing a door in flight makes a believer out of you. Double check the doors!
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