ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 357797
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| Date: | Wednesday 7 February 1996 |
| Time: | 04:45 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32RT-300 |
| Owner/operator: | Steven A Walters |
| Registration: | N2200J |
| MSN: | 32R798504 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2944 hours |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Blountville, TN -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Birmingham, AL (BHM |
| Charlottesville, VA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The night instrument instruction flight was cruising at 9,000 feet, VFR on top, when the left half of the top engine cowling ripped off and lodged on the horizontal stabilizer. The airplane was difficult to control, and would not maintain level flight. The instructor and the student diverted to a nearby airport and landed uneventfully. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and stated that the left cowl pin was missing, but it did not fail, having been torn away along with the surrounding cowling material. The manager of the shop where the airplane was repaired stated that he had previously observed worn side latches and pin grommets that allowed the upper cowl pin to slide out of the lower pin hole, which would allow air flow to rip off the upper cowling. There were no FAA malfunction/defect reports of a similar failure, and the manufacturer did not have records of any previous failure.
Probable Cause: Inadequate maintenance, and subsequent in-flight separation of the cowling, due to worn cowling components.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ATL96LA045
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Mar-2024 06:40 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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