Small aircraft cowling departs aircraft at lift-off.

Attributes
ACN	132632
Time
Date	198912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dec
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 4 flight time total : 254
ASRS Report	132632
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Engine cowling came off on takeoff. This happened just as the aircraft was rotated for takeoff, so the takeoff was aborted. The aircraft was taxied back on the runway and the cowling was found laying on the runway. Airport security personnel assisted in the removal of the material, so that normal operations could resume on runway 18. It is possible that the latches holding the cowling were not securely fastened and this condition was missed on the preflight inspection. Suggest that a thorough check of cowling holding devices be included on preflight inspection. This should include straps, latches and screws, which hold the cowling in place.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA COWLING DEPARTS ACFT AT LIFT-OFF.

Narrative: ENG COWLING CAME OFF ON TKOF. THIS HAPPENED JUST AS THE ACFT WAS ROTATED FOR TKOF, SO THE TKOF WAS ABORTED. THE ACFT WAS TAXIED BACK ON THE RWY AND THE COWLING WAS FOUND LAYING ON THE RWY. ARPT SECURITY PERSONNEL ASSISTED IN THE REMOVAL OF THE MATERIAL, SO THAT NORMAL OPS COULD RESUME ON RWY 18. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE LATCHES HOLDING THE COWLING WERE NOT SECURELY FASTENED AND THIS CONDITION WAS MISSED ON THE PREFLT INSPECTION. SUGGEST THAT A THOROUGH CHK OF COWLING HOLDING DEVICES BE INCLUDED ON PREFLT INSPECTION. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE STRAPS, LATCHES AND SCREWS, WHICH HOLD THE COWLING IN PLACE.

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.