Narrative:

On mar/xx/97, myself and captain were responsible for flight from gri to den. Upon arrival in den the FAA noticed 35 screws being loose on the left engine starter generator cooling duct cowling. As per our operation specifications we are to arrive 1 hour prior to departure for preflight and runup procedures. Due to a mixup in my schedule (my fault) I was late for the preflight and runup. When I arrived 15 mins prior to departure, I discussed the preflight with my captain. He stated that he performed the preflight. I doublechked the 'flight can' and saw that all the procedures were checked off. After learning of the problem in den the captain and I discussed the preflight walkaround. He said he checked the hydraulic reservoir door, which was secure. With the placement of the hydraulic reservoir door being so close to the panel screws we were confident that all screws were flush with the surface at our departure. Subsequent conversations with other mechanics have shown us that the screws can be flush without being fastened. A rechk of my flight schedule the night before is the best way to make sure I show on time for the preflight. Also possibly better communication with mechanics would be a way to cut down on incidents as this one. The captain of the flight will also be also.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAA INSPECTOR FOUND 35 LOOSE COWLING SCREWS ON THE L ENG COWLING GENERATOR COOLING DUCT DURING A POSTFLT INSPECTION OF AN ACR LTT TURBOPROP.

Narrative: ON MAR/XX/97, MYSELF AND CAPT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR FLT FROM GRI TO DEN. UPON ARR IN DEN THE FAA NOTICED 35 SCREWS BEING LOOSE ON THE L ENG STARTER GENERATOR COOLING DUCT COWLING. AS PER OUR OP SPECS WE ARE TO ARRIVE 1 HR PRIOR TO DEP FOR PREFLT AND RUNUP PROCS. DUE TO A MIXUP IN MY SCHEDULE (MY FAULT) I WAS LATE FOR THE PREFLT AND RUNUP. WHEN I ARRIVED 15 MINS PRIOR TO DEP, I DISCUSSED THE PREFLT WITH MY CAPT. HE STATED THAT HE PERFORMED THE PREFLT. I DOUBLECHKED THE 'FLT CAN' AND SAW THAT ALL THE PROCS WERE CHKED OFF. AFTER LEARNING OF THE PROB IN DEN THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED THE PREFLT WALKAROUND. HE SAID HE CHKED THE HYD RESERVOIR DOOR, WHICH WAS SECURE. WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE HYD RESERVOIR DOOR BEING SO CLOSE TO THE PANEL SCREWS WE WERE CONFIDENT THAT ALL SCREWS WERE FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE AT OUR DEP. SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER MECHS HAVE SHOWN US THAT THE SCREWS CAN BE FLUSH WITHOUT BEING FASTENED. A RECHK OF MY FLT SCHEDULE THE NIGHT BEFORE IS THE BEST WAY TO MAKE SURE I SHOW ON TIME FOR THE PREFLT. ALSO POSSIBLY BETTER COM WITH MECHS WOULD BE A WAY TO CUT DOWN ON INCIDENTS AS THIS ONE. THE CAPT OF THE FLT WILL ALSO BE ALSO.

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.