Loose engine cowling screws cause propeller replacement on a light transport turboprop.

Attributes
ACN	301655
Time
Date	199504
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	301655
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During a preflight in monroe, la, at approximately XE30, nothing irregular was noted. About 50 mi southwest of memphis, after making a stop in shreveport, the flight attendant informed the captain and myself that there were 3 screws extending from the cowling on the left engine. They were the type of crews that are pushed in and turned to lock in place. (Zeus fasteners). After landing in memphis, maintenance informed us that 1 screw was extending out far enough so that it was touching the propeller. The propeller had to be replaced. Apparently the screws were not locked into place after being in maintenance the night before and popped out after the engine was started.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOOSE ENG COWLING SCREWS CAUSE PROP REPLACEMENT ON A LTT TURBOPROP.

Narrative: DURING A PREFLT IN MONROE, LA, AT APPROX XE30, NOTHING IRREGULAR WAS NOTED. ABOUT 50 MI SW OF MEMPHIS, AFTER MAKING A STOP IN SHREVEPORT, THE FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED THE CAPT AND MYSELF THAT THERE WERE 3 SCREWS EXTENDING FROM THE COWLING ON THE L ENG. THEY WERE THE TYPE OF CREWS THAT ARE PUSHED IN AND TURNED TO LOCK IN PLACE. (ZEUS FASTENERS). AFTER LNDG IN MEMPHIS, MAINT INFORMED US THAT 1 SCREW WAS EXTENDING OUT FAR ENOUGH SO THAT IT WAS TOUCHING THE PROP. THE PROP HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THE SCREWS WERE NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE AFTER BEING IN MAINT THE NIGHT BEFORE AND POPPED OUT AFTER THE ENG WAS STARTED.

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.