Narrative:

While in contact with raleigh approach I had been given a descent from 5000 ft MSL to 4000 ft MSL for the approach into raleigh. I was passing 4800 ft MSL when the engine (top) cowling broke loose, flopped back and tore loose from the aircraft. I maintained control of the aircraft and notified approach of my situation. Outside of the minor drag, the flight characteristics were not affected. Keeping a very close check on the engine instruments, I proceeded with the approach into raleigh with an uneventful landing at raleigh.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN ATX CARGO PIPER CHEROKEE 6, PA32, ADVISED ATC THAT HIS TOP ENG COWLING FELL OFF THE ACFT DURING DSCNT FOR LNDG. ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND ONLY A MINOR AMOUNT OF DRAG NOTICED BY THE PLT DURING AN UNEVENTFUL CONTINUATION TO LNDG.

Narrative: WHILE IN CONTACT WITH RALEIGH APCH I HAD BEEN GIVEN A DSCNT FROM 5000 FT MSL TO 4000 FT MSL FOR THE APCH INTO RALEIGH. I WAS PASSING 4800 FT MSL WHEN THE ENG (TOP) COWLING BROKE LOOSE, FLOPPED BACK AND TORE LOOSE FROM THE ACFT. I MAINTAINED CTL OF THE ACFT AND NOTIFIED APCH OF MY SIT. OUTSIDE OF THE MINOR DRAG, THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS WERE NOT AFFECTED. KEEPING A VERY CLOSE CHK ON THE ENG INSTS, I PROCEEDED WITH THE APCH INTO RALEIGH WITH AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT RALEIGH.

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.