An EMB145 #1 engine cowling was not properly secured causing vibration and damage at cruise altitude...

Attributes
ACN	778247
Time
Date	200803
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zid.artcc
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	778247
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	778246
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

At FL270; our filed and assigned altitude; we experienced a sudden vibration. Other than the slight vibration; there was no abnormal indications on our EICAS. Upon landing; we were advised of cowling damage. We completed all normal and abnormal checklists in accordance with the aom and had crash fire rescue equipment deplane all passenger. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the aircraft had maintenance performed on it the previous night and a mechanic failed to completely secure the lower cowl latches. When it opened in flight; the lower cowl wrapped around the upper cowl but the cowl hinge did not fail. Supplemental information from acn 778246: aircraft cowling not secured properly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB145 #1 ENG COWLING WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED CAUSING VIBRATION AND DAMAGE AT CRUISE ALT.

Narrative: AT FL270; OUR FILED AND ASSIGNED ALT; WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN VIBRATION. OTHER THAN THE SLIGHT VIBRATION; THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS ON OUR EICAS. UPON LNDG; WE WERE ADVISED OF COWLING DAMAGE. WE COMPLETED ALL NORMAL AND ABNORMAL CHKLISTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AOM AND HAD CFR DEPLANE ALL PAX. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE ACFT HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON IT THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND A MECHANIC FAILED TO COMPLETELY SECURE THE LOWER COWL LATCHES. WHEN IT OPENED IN FLT; THE LOWER COWL WRAPPED AROUND THE UPPER COWL BUT THE COWL HINGE DID NOT FAIL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 778246: ACFT COWLING NOT SECURED PROPERLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.