The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

So I locked myself in my still new-to-me 140 the other day. I had a brain fart and pulled the door handle backwards toward me instead of pushing it forward like you’re supposed to. This caused something in the mechanism to overcenter and lock which forced me to get out the passenger side. The outside door latch still worked properly and eventually I was able to jiggle the inner latch handle enough to get it to pop back to the right place.
My question for the group is whether there should be something in the latch mechanism that prevents you from turning the handle the wrong way? Also, someone removed the window latches and screwed the windows shut on my airplane. Is the window latch used as a stop to prevent incorrect handle rotation?

I can answer some of your question. The window latch won't stop the door handle from going "over center" in the wrong direction. I've had passengers pull that stunt on me numerous times over the years. I just bring it back in the proper direction and it releases the door. To figure out if you bent something, just remove the interior panel, remove the three screws that hold the inner door lever and pull it out a tad and look it over. Chances are if you did bend something it's an easy fix once you take a look at it.

(since prior experiences I give the passengers a "door operation brief")

I used a label maker and put a note on the door above the handle that said: "To Open Door, Push Handle Forward".
I also put one near the passenger door lock mechanism that says: To Unlock, Push Lever Aft".

Rick

8342 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:24 am I used a label maker and put a note on the door above the handle that said: "To Open Door, Push Handle Forward".
I also put one near the passenger door lock mechanism that says: To Unlock, Push Lever Aft".

Rick

That's a great fix, let's hope your passengers can read!