On July 16, 2000, a Piper PA-32-300 (registration N2947A) was involved in an aviation accident near Washington, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The inadvertent stall by the pilot-in-command while returning for a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the loose engine cowling. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that the right side of the top cowling rose after takeoff. During an attempted landing, the airplane touched down hard off the runway and slid onto it, causing the top cowling to separate. Post-accident examination revealed separated fasteners and a worn cowl pin.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that during preflight, all cowling fasteners appeared secure. After takeoff, the right side of the top cowling unexpectedly rose upward. He turned to land on a different runway while attempting to maintain sufficient airspeed to stay airborne but not so much as to tear off the cowling. He lowered one notch of flaps and later reported, 'I ran out of lift.' The airplane then landed hard off the intended runway and slid onto the pavement; the top cowling separated upon impact. The pilot noted that the raised cowling created drag but did not obstruct his visibility. He did not apply full power to mitigate the increased drag, and he stated, 'I should have added more power.' He also confirmed there was no problem with the engine.
Examination Findings
Post-accident inspection revealed that the lower half of the right forward side fastener was separated and later recovered. The wing fastener of the right aft side fastener was also separated. Additionally, the attach structure of the right cowl pin had separated from the top cowling but was recovered from the accident site. The right cowl pin and its bushing showed signs of wear, but the inspecting IA (Inspector Authorization) indicated that the wear was 'normal.' The top cowling is normally secured by six fasteners and two pins that attach to the top cowling and extend through bushings affixed to the bottom cowling.