# NTSB WPR24LA051: Piper PA-28-180, N9166J, Mesa, AZ, December 5, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 4, 2023, 19:30 local (Dec 5, 2023, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.307824, -111.65545 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3078&lon=-111.6555&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193480/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193480
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA051

## 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.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, while in cruise flight transitioning between airports, the right side of the engine upper cowling came unlatched and struck the windshield. The left side of the upper cowling remained attached, and the pilot landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windshield. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right front fastener pin, which secures the front of the upper cowling adjacent to the air intake, had separated from the cowling structure. This likely allowed the forward right side of the upper cowling to separate from the lower cowling and move up into the airstream, resulting in the overload failure of the right side cowling latches.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9166J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9166J), registered now, S/N 28-3226, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-3226
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 5899.6
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Red Rock Flying School LLC
- Registered owner: Red Rock Flying School LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 16, 2023
- Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ
- Airport: IWA, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, runway 30L, 10,401 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 7, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 1,277 total, 950 in this make and model, 1,129 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KIWA, 1 nm away
- METAR: KIWA 050253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 15/04 A3013

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20231204022139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231204022139A), Dec 4, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193480. 6.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16582764&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record of examination findings (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16582305&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20of%20Examination-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16583055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Illustrated parts catalog exerpt (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=IPC%20Exerpt-Rel.pdf

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.

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