Service difficulty report · Cowling · Pilats PC1245

Difficulty date
January 30, 2007
Submitted
August 3, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Pilats PC1245
Aircraft time
13,167 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A67B
Propeller
Hartzl HCE4A3D
Part
Cowling
Part number
5711012091
Condition
Damaged
Part time
14,281 hours
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

(CAN) AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOTS NOTICED THAT THE TOP FRONT COWLING WAS LIFTING OFF AT THE REAR. THEY RETURNED TO THE FIELD AND DURING THE FLARE THE COWLING DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT, STRIKING AND DAMAGING THE PROP REQUIRING ITS DISASSEMBLY AND RT WING DAMAGING THE OB DEICE BOOT. THE POWER SECTION WAS REMOVED FOR A PROP STRIKE INSPECTION. MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THE PREVIOUS EVENING WHERE THAT COWLING HAD BEEN REMOVED AND REINSTALLED. THE (4) LATCHES APPEARED SECURE TO THE AME AND THE PILOTS ON THEIR WALK AROUND. THERE IS NO VISUAL AID ON THIS COWLING DESIGN OTHER THEN THE LATCH BEING (FLUSH) TO INDICATE TO THE PILOT OR TECHNICIAN THAT THE LATCH IS SECURED. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THE DIFFERENCE