RETURN LAND. LOOSE COWLING FASTENERS ON AIR TAXI.

Date: 1994-12 · Aircraft: PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-other-unknown

Synopsis

RETURN LAND. LOOSE COWLING FASTENERS ON AIR TAXI.

Narrative

TYPE ACFT-PA-31 PIPER NAVAJO. I WAS THE PIC OF FLT FROM OME TO SHH. AFTER REACHING VMC CONDITIONS ON CLBOUT I CANCELED IFR FLT PLAN AND AS I WAS LEVELING AT 8500 I NOTICED THE COWLING ON THE L ENG STARTING TO SEPARATE; DUE TO 3 HOLD DOWN FASTENERS THAT WERE LOOSE. I REDUCED PWR AND LOWERED FLAPS AND LNDG GEAR TO REDUCE AIRSPD. I REQUESTED A CLRNC TO OME FROM ZAN AND INITIALLY DECLARED AN EMER; BUT CORRECTED THE REQUEST WITH A REQUEST FOR PRIORITY HANDLING. I PERFORMED THE NDB RWY 2 AT OME AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ACFT. A MECH INSPECTED FASTENERS AND RE-FASTENED THEM. THE ACFT HAD JUST COME OUT OF MAINT AND A MECH HAD FAILED TO TIGHTEN 3 FASTENERS. I MISSED THE LOOSE FASTENERS ON MY PREFLT INSPECTION. THE FASTENERS ARE MARKED WITH A RED STRIPE THAT INDICATES THE PROPER TIGHT POS; HOWEVER; THE STRIPES WERE NEARLY WORN OFF. I REALIZE I AM STILL COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE AND WILL; IN THE FUTURE; PAY MORE ATTN IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PREFLT INSPECTION. THE DIRECTOR OF MAINT HAD ALL PA31 ACFT FASTENER MARKINGS REPAINTED THAT EVENING.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.