C150 pilot has engine cowling come loose and lands at a closed airport as a precaution.

Attributes
ACN	444086
Time
Date	199907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbg.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 630 flight time type : 550
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Cowling flap hinge pin slipped out during flight. Aircraft had been thoroughly preflted. However, a slightly loose hinge pin had been discovered on one prior inspection. Cowling flap stood straight up on cowling held only by retaining wing pins. I advised btv ATC of emergency, as cowling flap could have penetrated windscreen, and landed at non-closed plattsburg AFB. On inspection, cowling flap had tear on 1 retaining pin (wing nut) hole. On mechanic's advice, secured cowling flap with packing tape and flew approximately 2 NM to pcb for repairs. Problem caused by: pilot's and mechanic's inattention to cowling flap hinge pin security.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 PLT HAS ENG COWLING COME LOOSE AND LANDS AT A CLOSED ARPT AS A PRECAUTION.

Narrative: COWLING FLAP HINGE PIN SLIPPED OUT DURING FLT. ACFT HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY PREFLTED. HOWEVER, A SLIGHTLY LOOSE HINGE PIN HAD BEEN DISCOVERED ON ONE PRIOR INSPECTION. COWLING FLAP STOOD STRAIGHT UP ON COWLING HELD ONLY BY RETAINING WING PINS. I ADVISED BTV ATC OF EMER, AS COWLING FLAP COULD HAVE PENETRATED WINDSCREEN, AND LANDED AT NON-CLOSED PLATTSBURG AFB. ON INSPECTION, COWLING FLAP HAD TEAR ON 1 RETAINING PIN (WING NUT) HOLE. ON MECH'S ADVICE, SECURED COWLING FLAP WITH PACKING TAPE AND FLEW APPROX 2 NM TO PCB FOR REPAIRS. PROB CAUSED BY: PLT'S AND MECH'S INATTENTION TO COWLING FLAP HINGE PIN SECURITY.

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.