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Pilot of an atx cargo piper cherokee 6, PA32, advised ATC that his top engine cowling fell off the aircraft during descent for landing. Only minor damage to the aircraft and only a minor amount of drag noticed by the pilot during an uneventful continuation to landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 387373 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199712 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : rdu |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 4800 msl bound upper : 4800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : rdu |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2350 flight time type : 170 |
| ASRS Report | 387373 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
While in contact with raleigh approach I had been given a descent from 5000 ft MSL to 4000 ft MSL for the approach into raleigh. I was passing 4800 ft MSL when the engine (top) cowling broke loose, flopped back and tore loose from the aircraft. I maintained control of the aircraft and notified approach of my situation. Outside of the minor drag, the flight characteristics were not affected. Keeping a very close check on the engine instruments, I proceeded with the approach into raleigh with an uneventful landing at raleigh.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF AN ATX CARGO PIPER CHEROKEE 6, PA32, ADVISED ATC THAT HIS TOP ENG COWLING FELL OFF THE ACFT DURING DSCNT FOR LNDG. ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND ONLY A MINOR AMOUNT OF DRAG NOTICED BY THE PLT DURING AN UNEVENTFUL CONTINUATION TO LNDG.
Narrative: WHILE IN CONTACT WITH RALEIGH APCH I HAD BEEN GIVEN A DSCNT FROM 5000 FT MSL TO 4000 FT MSL FOR THE APCH INTO RALEIGH. I WAS PASSING 4800 FT MSL WHEN THE ENG (TOP) COWLING BROKE LOOSE, FLOPPED BACK AND TORE LOOSE FROM THE ACFT. I MAINTAINED CTL OF THE ACFT AND NOTIFIED APCH OF MY SIT. OUTSIDE OF THE MINOR DRAG, THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS WERE NOT AFFECTED. KEEPING A VERY CLOSE CHK ON THE ENG INSTS, I PROCEEDED WITH THE APCH INTO RALEIGH WITH AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT RALEIGH.
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.