# Accident 20030327017699A: Piper PA28RT201, Berlin, NJ, March 27, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 2003, 07:32 local time
- Place: Berlin, NJ
- Airport: Camden County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7783° N, 74.9478° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7783&lon=-74.9478&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8098Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8098Q-2003-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28RT-201 (registry code 7102818, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28RT201
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,485 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030327017699A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COWLING CAME LOOSE DURING TAKEOFF. AT 300 FEET AGL, THE PILOT TURNED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND MADE AN EXTREMELY HARD LANDING. THE LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEARS WERE SHEARED FROM THE WINGS AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS COLLAPSED. BOTH WINGS WERE SEVERELY WRINKLED AS WELL AS THE AFT FUSELAGE. THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STOPPAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD REMOVED THE TOP COWLING THE MORNING OF THE FLIGHT. OBSERVATIONS CONFIRMED THAT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT COWLING FASTENERS WERE STILL ATTACHED ON THE COWLING, WHILE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FASTENERS WERE NOT LATCHED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC03LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA072), Mar 27, 2003: Piper PA-28RT-201 (N8098Q), Berlin, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which led to an unsecured cowling and loss of aircraft control. Factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the unsecured cowling.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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