A BE1900 in descent at 14000 ft. The left engine inboard cowling departed the aircraft due to either fasteners not installed or fastener failure.

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Attributes
ACN	497067
Time
Date	200101
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : v130.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	497067
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

While flying an air carrier BE1900D, a part of the inboard engine cowling on the left engine departed the aircraft. I was descending from 16000 ft on my way to 11000 ft, and at approximately 14000 ft, the cowling departed the aircraft. I believe that the reason why the cowling departed the aircraft was the failure of the mechanic to fasten all zeus fasteners that hold the cowling in place. If all zeus fasteners were fastened properly, I believe that the cowling would never have departed the airplane. Once inspected on the ground, the top portion of zeus fasteners were still locked in place. The bottom half were missing, along with the cowling. One possible conclusion would be that during the replacing and refastening of the cowling, only the top half of the cowling was correctly secured. The bottom half was not. During the preflight of aircraft xyz, I noticed no irregular position of any cowlings, screws or zeus fasteners. The cowling and zeus fasteners appeared to be flush with all other surfaces.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE1900 IN DSCNT AT 14000 FT. THE L ENG INBOARD COWLING DEPARTED THE ACFT DUE TO EITHER FASTENERS NOT INSTALLED OR FASTENER FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING AN ACR BE1900D, A PART OF THE INBOARD ENG COWLING ON THE L ENG DEPARTED THE ACFT. I WAS DSNDING FROM 16000 FT ON MY WAY TO 11000 FT, AND AT APPROX 14000 FT, THE COWLING DEPARTED THE ACFT. I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON WHY THE COWLING DEPARTED THE ACFT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MECH TO FASTEN ALL ZEUS FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE COWLING IN PLACE. IF ALL ZEUS FASTENERS WERE FASTENED PROPERLY, I BELIEVE THAT THE COWLING WOULD NEVER HAVE DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE. ONCE INSPECTED ON THE GND, THE TOP PORTION OF ZEUS FASTENERS WERE STILL LOCKED IN PLACE. THE BOTTOM HALF WERE MISSING, ALONG WITH THE COWLING. ONE POSSIBLE CONCLUSION WOULD BE THAT DURING THE REPLACING AND REFASTENING OF THE COWLING, ONLY THE TOP HALF OF THE COWLING WAS CORRECTLY SECURED. THE BOTTOM HALF WAS NOT. DURING THE PREFLT OF ACFT XYZ, I NOTICED NO IRREGULAR POS OF ANY COWLINGS, SCREWS OR ZEUS FASTENERS. THE COWLING AND ZEUS FASTENERS APPEARED TO BE FLUSH WITH ALL OTHER SURFACES.

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.