Right side of cowling on PA28 departs aircraft; breaks windshield and strikes stabilator; embedding ...

Attributes
ACN	747039
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 3w2.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 7
ASRS Report	747039
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2900 flight time type : 2650
ASRS Report	747267
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Piper arrow was located at put in bay with inoperative starter bendix drive. A flight instructor and I flew up in a C172RG to recover the aircraft. Upon arrival; I noted that right side of the aircraft was in good condition. Tires inflated; cowling latched; etc. I retrieved an aerosol can of cleaner from the cargo area of the C172 and sprayed starter bendix. The instructor then 'bumped' the starter over and it engaged with the drive gear. He then exited the aircraft and went to the FBO. I checked the left side of the cowling and the tires; verified the amount of fuel onboard; and retrieved my headset from the C172. I entered the arrow; started the engine; and taxied for takeoff. Engine run-up was good and I departed the airport. After climbing to approximately 1500 ft AGL; I began a l-hand circuit of the island. I had completed the circuit and was northbound next to the airport when the top cowling seemed to lift on the right side. The right half tore away; shattered the right windshield; and cracked the left side. I reduced power; turned toward the airport; and called the instructor; who had departed behind me. Landing was made without further incident. Discussion with instructor revealed that he had unlatched the right side of the cowling while I went to the cargo area of the C172. Supplemental information from acn 747267: I ferried a mechanic who also holds a pilot's certificate to review and evaluate the need for repairs to a PA28-200R. I observed the PA28 start and taxi to the runway ahead of me where he took off first. After he took off; he advised that he was returning to the airport. I returned and saw that the cowling was missing; the windshield was broken on the passenger side and that a portion of the cowling was embedded in the right horizontal stabilizer. I believe that the pilot of the arrow failed to conduct an adequate preflight considering that the aircraft had reportedly failed to start and had been unattended overnight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RIGHT SIDE OF COWLING ON PA28 DEPARTS ACFT; BREAKS WINDSHIELD AND STRIKES STABILATOR; EMBEDDING ITSELF THEREIN. REPORTERS DIFFER ON RESPONSIBLE PARTY.

Narrative: PIPER ARROW WAS LOCATED AT PUT IN BAY WITH INOP STARTER BENDIX DRIVE. A FLT INSTRUCTOR AND I FLEW UP IN A C172RG TO RECOVER THE ACFT. UPON ARR; I NOTED THAT R SIDE OF THE ACFT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. TIRES INFLATED; COWLING LATCHED; ETC. I RETRIEVED AN AEROSOL CAN OF CLEANER FROM THE CARGO AREA OF THE C172 AND SPRAYED STARTER BENDIX. THE INSTRUCTOR THEN 'BUMPED' THE STARTER OVER AND IT ENGAGED WITH THE DRIVE GEAR. HE THEN EXITED THE ACFT AND WENT TO THE FBO. I CHKED THE L SIDE OF THE COWLING AND THE TIRES; VERIFIED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ONBOARD; AND RETRIEVED MY HEADSET FROM THE C172. I ENTERED THE ARROW; STARTED THE ENG; AND TAXIED FOR TKOF. ENG RUN-UP WAS GOOD AND I DEPARTED THE ARPT. AFTER CLBING TO APPROX 1500 FT AGL; I BEGAN A L-HAND CIRCUIT OF THE ISLAND. I HAD COMPLETED THE CIRCUIT AND WAS NBOUND NEXT TO THE ARPT WHEN THE TOP COWLING SEEMED TO LIFT ON THE R SIDE. THE R HALF TORE AWAY; SHATTERED THE R WINDSHIELD; AND CRACKED THE L SIDE. I REDUCED PWR; TURNED TOWARD THE ARPT; AND CALLED THE INSTRUCTOR; WHO HAD DEPARTED BEHIND ME. LNDG WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DISCUSSION WITH INSTRUCTOR REVEALED THAT HE HAD UNLATCHED THE R SIDE OF THE COWLING WHILE I WENT TO THE CARGO AREA OF THE C172. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 747267: I FERRIED A MECH WHO ALSO HOLDS A PLT'S CERTIFICATE TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE NEED FOR REPAIRS TO A PA28-200R. I OBSERVED THE PA28 START AND TAXI TO THE RWY AHEAD OF ME WHERE HE TOOK OFF FIRST. AFTER HE TOOK OFF; HE ADVISED THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT. I RETURNED AND SAW THAT THE COWLING WAS MISSING; THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN ON THE PAX SIDE AND THAT A PORTION OF THE COWLING WAS EMBEDDED IN THE R HORIZ STABILIZER. I BELIEVE THAT THE PLT OF THE ARROW FAILED TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PREFLT CONSIDERING THAT THE ACFT HAD REPORTEDLY FAILED TO START AND HAD BEEN UNATTENDED OVERNIGHT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Right side of cowling on PA28 departs aircraft; breaks windshield and strikes stabilator; embedding itself therein. Reporters differ on responsible party.