An air carrier light transport had to return land with an improperly latched engine cowl.

Attributes
ACN	282939
Time
Date	199409
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6350 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	282939
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	283019
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Passing 3500 ft, the flight attendant alerted us that the left engine cowling was slightly open. After verifying that it was ajar, we decided to return to msp, we accomplished the normal checklist, notified company, and landed uneventfully. We had preflted the airplane earlier in the morning in pia and the flight was normal to msp. Maintenance is responsible for checking the oil level on the first carrier into msp. Before departing msp. I did not notice any discrepancies on my preflight walk around.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT HAD TO RETURN LAND WITH AN IMPROPERLY LATCHED ENG COWL.

Narrative: PASSING 3500 FT, THE FLT ATTENDANT ALERTED US THAT THE L ENG COWLING WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN. AFTER VERIFYING THAT IT WAS AJAR, WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO MSP, WE ACCOMPLISHED THE NORMAL CHKLIST, NOTIFIED COMPANY, AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. WE HAD PREFLTED THE AIRPLANE EARLIER IN THE MORNING IN PIA AND THE FLT WAS NORMAL TO MSP. MAINT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHKING THE OIL LEVEL ON THE FIRST CARRIER INTO MSP. BEFORE DEPARTING MSP. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY DISCREPANCIES ON MY PREFLT WALK AROUND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.