# Accident 20231204022139A: Piper PA-28-180, Mesa, AZ, December 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 4, 2023, 20:20 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3078° N, 111.6555° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3078&lon=-111.6555&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9166J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9166J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,280 total, 925 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA051) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231204022139A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS CFI FOR AN IFR TRAINING FLIGHT AND THAT THE CFI AND STUDENT CONDUCTED INDEPENDENT PREFIGHTS OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING THAT THE COWLING WAS LATCHED.  ON THE SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY, AFTER TERMINATING THE LESSON, THEY REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THROUGH KIAW AIRSPACE NORTH FROM P08.  WHEN ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MILES PRIOR TO THE FIELD, THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE COWLING CAME UP AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD.  THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COWLING REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE COWLING BLOCKED THE VISABILITY OF THE CFI IN THE RIGHT SEAT. THE CFI SLOWED THE AIRPLANE, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND CONTINUED DIRECT TO KIWA.  THE CFI HAD THE STUDENT HOLD THE COWLING DOWN THROUGH SPACE WHERE THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN TO CREATE VISIBILITY WHICH ENABLE THE CFI TO LAND SAFELY.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE UPPER COWLING’S RIGHT FRONT PIN THAT TAKES ALL THE AIR LOADS SEPARATED FROM THE COWLING.  THE LATCHES ON RIGHT SIDE THEN FAILED AS THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD THE COWL IN PLACE AND NOT TO CARRY THE AIR LOADS IN FLIGHT.  THE PINS ARE HELD IN PLACE BY COMPOSITE MEDIA, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED IN THIS CASE.  SDR WAS FILED.

## 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 WPR24LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA051), Dec 5, 2023: Piper PA-28-180 (N9166J), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the engine cowling right side latch pin and fasteners, which resulted in the partial separation of the engine cowling during flight.

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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