What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On November 11, 2003, at 1645 CDT, a Piper PA-28R, N4900J, operated by private pilot paul d. maxwell was at 1,000 feet AGL on a crosswind leg for runway 30 at eft. The pilot then noticed that the left rear corner of the cowl had come up 3/4 of an inch. A moment later the left cowl hit the windshield. The pilot turned on the auto pilot and ducked down as the right side cowl was still attached and was smashing into the windshield until both sides were broken out. When the smashing noise stopped the pilot regained control of the aircraft and proceeded to land without incident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON NOVEMBER 11, 2003, AT 1645 CDT, A PIPER PA-28R, N4900J, OPERATED BY PRIVATE PILOT PAUL D. MAXWELL WAS AT 1,000 FEET AGL ON A CROSSWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 30 AT EFT. THE PILOT THEN NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR CORNER OF THE COWL HAD COME UP 3/4 OF AN INCH. A MOMENT LATER THE LEFT COWL HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT TURNED ON THE AUTO PILOT AND DUCKED DOWN AS THE RIGHT SIDE COWL WAS STILL ATTACHED AND WAS SMASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD UNTIL BOTH SIDES WERE BROKEN OUT. WHEN THE SMASHING NOISE STOPPED THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND PROCEEDED TO LAND WITHOUT INCIDENT.
Other reports on N4900J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.