Unsecured engine cowling opens in flight forcing aircraft to return land.

Attributes
ACN	190870
Time
Date	199110
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cvg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	190870
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I (first officer) ordered 1 quart oil in #2 engine during preflight. Fueler serviced the engine oil but did not secure cowling. After rotation, cowling flew open and forced a return and landing. I should have checked but simply forgot. I think this was the first time I forgot to check in hundreds of flts. Murphy's law. Ps, not to shed blame, but incident could be due partly to the company's (commuter) sorry scheduling practices. I and the captain had 8 hours scheduled rest at home domicile. I have to drive 40 mins each way; with a shower, we're talking 6 hours sleep maximum!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNSECURED ENG COWLING OPENS IN FLT FORCING ACFT TO RETURN LAND.

Narrative: I (FO) ORDERED 1 QUART OIL IN #2 ENG DURING PREFLT. FUELER SERVICED THE ENG OIL BUT DID NOT SECURE COWLING. AFTER ROTATION, COWLING FLEW OPEN AND FORCED A RETURN AND LNDG. I SHOULD HAVE CHKED BUT SIMPLY FORGOT. I THINK THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I FORGOT TO CHK IN HUNDREDS OF FLTS. MURPHY'S LAW. PS, NOT TO SHED BLAME, BUT INCIDENT COULD BE DUE PARTLY TO THE COMPANY'S (COMMUTER) SORRY SCHEDULING PRACTICES. I AND THE CAPT HAD 8 HRS SCHEDULED REST AT HOME DOMICILE. I HAVE TO DRIVE 40 MINS EACH WAY; WITH A SHOWER, WE'RE TALKING 6 HRS SLEEP MAX!

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.