Narrative:

After having a mechanic tow the aircraft out, wash the windows and prepare it for flight, I did a quick walk around and pulled the landing gear pins and chocks. I started both engines and taxied out to take off. After clearance from the tower and while climbing out at 60 KTS at about 400' AGL, the aircraft shuddered or shook one time for about 10 seconds. Later did it again. I called the tower and told them I was returning and did not need assistance. On the final approach the aircraft shook again. After landing I found the engine cowling had come open and slid all the way back. The type latches used on the cowling can be closed and not be latched giving the impression that it is secure. Assuming that someone else had checked the aircraft after maintenance and not closely looking at it personally nearly ruined my day.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF ROTARY WING ACFT EXPERIENCED REPEATED SHUDDERING OF THE ACFT AFTER TKOF, RETURNED AND LANDED, FOUND LOOSE COWLING.

Narrative: AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC TOW THE ACFT OUT, WASH THE WINDOWS AND PREPARE IT FOR FLT, I DID A QUICK WALK AROUND AND PULLED THE LNDG GEAR PINS AND CHOCKS. I STARTED BOTH ENGINES AND TAXIED OUT TO TAKE OFF. AFTER CLRNC FROM THE TWR AND WHILE CLIMBING OUT AT 60 KTS AT ABOUT 400' AGL, THE ACFT SHUDDERED OR SHOOK ONE TIME FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. LATER DID IT AGAIN. I CALLED THE TWR AND TOLD THEM I WAS RETURNING AND DID NOT NEED ASSISTANCE. ON THE FINAL APCH THE ACFT SHOOK AGAIN. AFTER LNDG I FOUND THE ENGINE COWLING HAD COME OPEN AND SLID ALL THE WAY BACK. THE TYPE LATCHES USED ON THE COWLING CAN BE CLOSED AND NOT BE LATCHED GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS SECURE. ASSUMING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD CHECKED THE ACFT AFTER MAINT AND NOT CLOSELY LOOKING AT IT PERSONALLY NEARLY RUINED MY DAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.