What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During sun air flight 2253, PIC declared in-flight emergency, at 1436 EDT, approximately 10 NM west of lns at 3500 MSL. PIC reported being in IMC conditions and requesting return to field (lns) due to partial separation of #2 engine upper cowling.
Aircraft returned to lns and landed without further incident.
Initial investigation indicates maintenance personnel repaired # 2 engine ignition discrepancy just prior to incident flight and failed to properly secure # 2 engine upper cowling assembly.
Received mechanic statement confirming failure to properly secure the cowling.
PIC requested a meeting at the FSDO. PIC had a compliant attitude and stated during the meeting that he should have caught the mechanic's failure to properly secure the cowling. Investigation determined it would be difficult to determine if the cowling was secured properly by a visual inspection alone. Counseling conducted with the PIC.
As the FAA filed it
DURING SUN AIR FLIGHT 2253, PIC DECLARED IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY, AT 1436 EDT, APPROXIMATELY 10 NM WEST OF LNS AT 3500 MSL. PIC REPORTED BEING IN IMC CONDITIONS AND REQUESTING RETURN TO FIELD (LNS) DUE TO PARTIAL SEPARATION OF #2 ENGINE UPPER COWLING.
AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO LNS AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION INDICATES MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REPAIRED # 2 ENGINE IGNITION DISCREPANCY JUST PRIOR TO INCIDENT FLIGHT AND FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE # 2 ENGINE UPPER COWLING ASSEMBLY.
RECEIVED MECHANIC STATEMENT CONFIRMING FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE COWLING.
PIC REQUESTED A MEETING AT THE FSDO. PIC HAD A COMPLIANT ATTITUDE AND STATED DURING THE MEETING THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THE MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE COWLING. INVESTIGATION DETERMINED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF THE COWLING WAS SECURED PROPERLY BY A VISUAL INSPECTION ALONE. COUNSELING CONDUCTED WITH THE PIC.
Other reports on N3VM · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.