Unlatched cowling after takeoff requires light transport to return land.

Attributes
ACN	147822
Time
Date	199006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad tower : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial ground : preflight
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	147822
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Engine cowl became unlatched after takeoff. Oil pressure was lost and precautionary shutdown was completed. Emergency was declared. Uneventful landing and taxi to gate. What I believe happened: my company is very concerned with on-time departures; however, they do not give enough time in scheduling to turn the aircraft safely. There were 2 maintenance functions, 1 routine and 1 not routine, in 1/2 hour. There are a minimum of 3 maintenance people with 2 sign-offs involved, and yet cowl latches were probably left open. The first officer told me he did a thorough preflight while I was inside receiving my WX package. I have my doubts about that also. I feel the main cause of this incident was that everyone involved was rushed. We must have more than 1/2 hour to do aircraft and crew swaps if there is maintenance being completed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNLATCHED COWLING AFTER TKOF REQUIRES LTT TO RETURN LAND.

Narrative: ENG COWL BECAME UNLATCHED AFTER TKOF. OIL PRESSURE WAS LOST AND PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN WAS COMPLETED. EMER WAS DECLARED. UNEVENTFUL LNDG AND TAXI TO GATE. WHAT I BELIEVE HAPPENED: MY COMPANY IS VERY CONCERNED WITH ON-TIME DEPS; HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT GIVE ENOUGH TIME IN SCHEDULING TO TURN THE ACFT SAFELY. THERE WERE 2 MAINT FUNCTIONS, 1 ROUTINE AND 1 NOT ROUTINE, IN 1/2 HR. THERE ARE A MINIMUM OF 3 MAINT PEOPLE WITH 2 SIGN-OFFS INVOLVED, AND YET COWL LATCHES WERE PROBABLY LEFT OPEN. THE F/O TOLD ME HE DID A THOROUGH PREFLT WHILE I WAS INSIDE RECEIVING MY WX PACKAGE. I HAVE MY DOUBTS ABOUT THAT ALSO. I FEEL THE MAIN CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED WAS RUSHED. WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN 1/2 HR TO DO ACFT AND CREW SWAPS IF THERE IS MAINT BEING COMPLETED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.