On November 27, 2000, a Piper PA-28R-180 (registration N4914J) operated by Vincent T. Vorsino was involved in an aviation accident near Merritt Island, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Maintenance personnel failure to properly install engine cowling fasteners, which allowed the engine cowling to separate in flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a second flight of the day, an airplane's engine cowling separated at about 500 feet, damaging the windscreen, baggage door, and stabilator. Three of four fastener studs were missing. The cowling had been removed for brake service seven flight hours earlier.
Incident Overview
The pilot reported that this was his second flight of the day. After taxiing to runway 29, he departed to the west. He noted nothing out of the ordinary on takeoff or climb out until reaching about 500 feet when the engine cowling separated from the airplane. The cowling broke a piece of the right windscreen, then spun off, struck the baggage door, and finally collided with the stabilator.
Examination Findings
Post-incident examination of the upper cowling revealed that three of the four fastener assembly studs were missing. Only one stud remained attached.
Maintenance History
A review of the airplane maintenance logs indicated that the cowling had been removed to service the hydraulic brakes on November 17, 2000, approximately seven flight hours before the incident.