What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 19, 2019 at approximately 1830 local time, the Piper PA-32R-300 was involved in an accident involving the failure of the upper engine cowling during a flight from Saipan International Airport(gsn) to west tinian airport(tni) in the commonwealth of the northern marianas. The pilot reported that while leveling out at 1500 feet of altitude after departing gsn, he believed he hit a bird causing most of the upper engine cowling to be liberated from the aircraft. The cowl impacted the right stabilator with enough force to damage supporting structure in the tail. The pilot declared an emergency and was able to land at gsn without further incident.
The aircraft sustained major damage to structure in the tail, but there were no injuries. Evidence of a bird strike was noted on the windscreen and vertical stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 19, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1830 LOCAL TIME, THE PIPER PA-32R-300 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE FAILURE OF THE UPPER ENGINE COWLING DURING A FLIGHT FROM SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT(GSN) TO WEST TINIAN AIRPORT(TNI) IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE LEVELING OUT AT 1500 FEET OF ALTITUDE AFTER DEPARTING GSN, HE BELIEVED HE HIT A BIRD CAUSING MOST OF THE UPPER ENGINE COWLING TO BE LIBERATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE COWL IMPACTED THE RIGHT STABILATOR WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO DAMAGE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE IN THE TAIL. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS ABLE TO LAND AT GSN WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE IN THE TAIL, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE WAS NOTED ON THE WINDSCREEN AND VERTICAL STABILIZER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N4599X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.